UK Hash House Harriers. ‘The drinking club with the running problem’
A great pic of one of the many different hashing groups;  Scarborough Hash House Harriers (SH3) who meet every Monday and the occasional Sunday and who welcome anyone & everyone of all abilities, –  and nobody gets left behind!

Hashing, drinking & running. What, where & how to get started

For those of you who haven’t heard of it, the concept of hashing is simple: its where diverse groups of like-minded individuals go running & walking together and then stop off at a pub.  Each event,  organised by one of the many clubs up and down the land is called a hash, with those involved calling themselves hashers, hares or hounds.

The running course set out on the day is set out by a hare (no, not a real one!), who heads out first and marks the trail in chalk, flour, sawdust or just about anything that will wash away. Each Hash group is a bit different, some groups lay a series of false trails, checks, regroups and the odd drink stop towards the end of the run, some Hash groups may build in more stops, but basically its all about fun. Its definitely not about winning and of those taking part  you can amble or walk round the course, rather than run, so there’s no need to be an athlete.

Hashing Running & Drinking Clubs

The Hash House Harriers (HHH or H3 as its known in Hashing terminology) is the umbrella body for a huge international group of non-competitive hashing, running & social clubs from clubs all around the world.

Most Hash clubs meet up every weekend, whatever the weather, with some also holding runs on regular evenings during the summer months. Their “pack size” ranges from 10 to 60 people on each run. Aimed at those looking for a sense of fun, Hashers  also look out for each other, on and off the trail. Like a community with shared values, some Hash clubs also organise other regular social events with all sorts of things going on.

Hashing can best be summed as non-competitive cross country running with social drink(s) at the pub afterwards being the main feature of the day. Everyone’s welcome; people coming along on their own, families, individuals, all ages and sizes. With a membership made up of people with ‘half a mind’ (their words not ours), it’s not to be taken at all seriously.

There’s NO membership fees and NO formalities.   Just chip in a pound to help out with the costs,  and with clubs up and down the country and across the world so you can literally join in wherever you like.   Everyone’s welcome, families, individuals, all ages, all sizes, all themes with clubs literally all around the world.  All following more or less the same principle, running or mostly walking (normally 3 – 4 miles),  lots of fun and the opportunity for a social drink afterwards.

Some clubs have also started to run awaydays and all sorts of  longer hashing events & social activities like a Roman Away Day to a Eurohash event in Edinburgh lasting anything from one day to 5 days, all with the same theme in mind

WANT TO GIVE IT A GO?  Check out UK HASH HARRIERS  to find clubs and hashes taking place near you now.