Running, Cold Beer And Hashers Mix At 250th Hash And
On-In
The Sun Herald
Sunday,
June 14, 1998
Section: LOCAL-FRONT
Page: A10
By Donald V. Adderton
Legend has it
that neither rain, snow nor gloom of night will ever
deter hashers from reaching for that frosty cold
libation at the end of a lung run.
Under a
broiling sun Saturday, out-of-town hashers joined
members of the Biloxi Hash House Harriers' 250th Hash
and On-In. The Biloxi hashers have been performing
this weekend ritual since November 1993.
``I just love
the trail and the On-In,'' said Marie ``HP'' Knowles
of Pascagoula, who was hashing with her 16-year-old
daughter, Anne. ``To run in the rain and cold is the
best way to hash.''
Many of the
hashers tried to downplay the drinking as they
crowded around coolers containing amber brew.
But these
hearty souls -- men and women -- followed a
meandering course -- marked by flour and chalk for
several miles, which ended in Woolmarket. The group
or pack chases a front-runner, who is called a hare,
along the course.
Over hill and
dale, these die-hard hashers trudged toward their
appointed rendezvous with a tankard of their favorite
ice-cold beverage, which is called the On-In -- malt
is optional.
Linda ``Gooey
Blow'' Crozier said she got tired of the New Orleans
bar scene and started hashing nine years ago.
``I really did
not know what to expect at first,'' said Crozier, who
is known to hashers in New Orleans as the ``Grand
Mistress. ``Hashing is open to everyone and it is all
about camaraderie.''
After the run,
the hashers gathered in a circle and engaged in loud
rugby songs and parodies as they proudly hoisted
their drinking glasses to their thirsty lips.
Depending on
who you ask, hashing was created in 1938 in Kuala
Lampur, Malaysia, by Albert S.I. Gispert, an
Englishman or Australian -- no one knows for sure --
to break up the boredom of going to the local pubs.
The activity is modeled after the English hounds and
hares game.
Currently,
there are more than 2,000 hash organizations around
the world. Many groups have their one Web sites.
``The hash is
one big family,'' said Randy ``C Slinger'' Houle of
Biloxi who stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. ``It
is a great way to relieve a lot of stress.''
Illustration:
Photo By: David Purdy
The Sun Herald
Caption: Rick `Banana Sling' Souza tops his beer
Saturday morning as hashers gather at the La Linda
Inn for the 250th hash of the Biloxi Hash House
Harriers.