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SKH3, OUR HashtorY |
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(COMMONWEALTH MIL. SPEC. HASHING) |
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Early Highlights |
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Recent Events |
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In the beginning, well according to the 'Genealogy of Hash House Harriers' register anyway Sek Kong H3 was started in March 1978 as an offshoot from Hong Kong H3, or H4 as we usually call it in Hong Kong. However we actually have notes of Sek Kong hash runs in 1974 so this record and 'official' link to H4 is incorrect. Possibly there was an unregistered hash running from Sek Kong who set up SKH3 officially in March 1978 similar to the way N2TH3 started. Little Sai Wan H3, which was also officially started in 1978, was also recorded as a descendant from H4 but this was corrected on 15 May 1999 to show descent from Bullsbrook H3 and Australian military links. The Australian forces also had strong links with Sek Kong Barracks of course, as did other Commonwealth forces. Indeed it was an Australian Army Sek Kong Hasher called Geordie Pepper who reorganised the midweek SKH3 runs into N2TH3 with their first official run being on 27 June 1983. The links and joint runs continued for many years but like so many things at a distance eventually SKH3 and LSWH3 went their own ways. For SKH3 and N2TH3 the close ties have continued and many SKH3 hashers have been Grand Master of one or the other or even both. |
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We used to always meet at the Sek Kong Borneo Lines Camp NAAFI on route Twisk on Sunday afternoons at 16:00 hours. Most of the runs were local but could be anywhere in the New Territories and occasionally further. Initially all the hashers were in the forces or their families, the first recorded regular civilian hasher being Steve 'Carthief' Argyles who joined in 1985. Things continued in a mainly military style with more and more civilians joining as the years passed by. The last official military hash was 'The Final Retreat', run 932 on 25 August 1996 but nothing changed and the next weeks run was from the NAAFI just like before. Very soon afterwards however the NAAFI was closed so we moved just down the hill and met at Cheesie's dai-pai-dong by the Sek Kong roundabout at the bottom of Route Twisk. We discussed if we should move to Osborne Barracks in Kowloon Tong, and had a hash party at Mrs. Doubtfire's quarters there one day, but that was going to close soon as well so there wasn't much point in doing that. SKH3 attendance kept falling and in late 1996 was usually in single figures so we considered stopping the hash, it was mainly military and they were all leaving because of the handover. One Sunday we sat around at Cheesie's dai-pai-dong after the run discussing if we should end SKH3 when it was pointed out that there were actually more civilians than military at that run. That was the turning point and we decided to keep the hash going in the Sek Kong area. SKH3 had run from the actual leafy glade just off the lane behind the dai-pai-dong a few times before. At least it was very near to Sek Kong and we could park there without getting tickets so that is probably the reason why we actually moved to the Leafy Glade dai-pai-dong. The last serving military hasher was Grand Master John 'Flossie' Harper, who turned out the lights behind Hong Kong's last Governor Chris Patten, and left on 30 June 1997. Although the serving military have all gone there still are a few SKH3 hashers who have served in the British and Commonwealth forces, Commandos, Paras, RAOC, RAF, RE, REME, Signals, (and maybe more) previously who by various twists of fate are in Hong Kong and still run with us. We always seem to have at least one of those hashers on the committee to help us maintain our military traditions. |
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With so many ex-SKH3 hashers now back in the UK it was only a matter of time before they got together and the Sek Kong Reunion H3 was formed on 24 August 1991. Although not yet recorded on the hash genealogy list, another of our hashers, Bob 'Little Bo Peep' Lupton, moved to Seoul Korea in the summer of 1999 and helped set a new hash there in early 2000. |
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Apart from the runs around Sek Kong and throughout the New Territories we also have runs in our own right or as joint hashes on Lama Island, Lantau Island, Macau and in Hong Kong's new northern extension the PRC, especially with the hash at Shekou. They are a great bunch and we always enjoy our visits there. There are also various social events such as Christmas, birthday and other parties, BBQs, junk trips and race days at Shatin. |
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SKH3 has all the usual hash lore plus a few traditions of it's own. These mainly centre on the GM who, being on parade for the business, must be properly dressed with GM's helmet and his baton, the Doggie Basher, which the GM is also required to take on the run and use to protect the hashers. Another SKH3 tradition is the 'Summer Rule' that used to be based around the summer and winter interfaces detailed in RAF station routine orders. BST and GMT time changes do the same job now. When the Summer Rule is invoked it is a sin to get changed into clean clothes until after the business has been completed. If you do so you may be invited to drink a free beer, we invite all our visitors for a free beer anyway because, well just because. If a female hasher, there are no ladies or gentlemen on our hash, gets a down-down we usually sing her a little compliment. Why, who knows, again just because. Another tradition is the Hash Raffle where all sorts of prizes are offered. Some are pure rubbish but there is also 'this week's star prize'. We usually have both long and short runs and these are indicated by an R (runners & rambos) or a W (walkers & wimps) respectively. |
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So that is it to date, we are certainly a drinking club with a running problem although some of our hashers are completely cured and never run anywhere! Any visitors are ALWAYS very welcome. |
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If you are an ex-SKH3 hasher and know any other details about the early days of SKH3, especially details of GMs and special runs, or if any of the above details need to be corrected please let me know. We really would like to receive your comments or stories about SKH3's early days. |
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On-On, |
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Hughiee. |
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E-Mail to: hughiee_the_hasher@hotmail.com |