Malacca is a historical State in Malaysia with beautiful scenery, challenging terrains, fine weather, friendly people, good food and good drink. It was bestowed the status of World Heritage by Unesco in 2008.
Hashing has first set foot in Malacca in 1975. Since then, a total of 8 chapters were founded, namely:
(i) Malacca Sunday Hash (MSH)
(ii) Malacca Sunday Hash House Harriers & Harrietes (MSH4)
(iii) Malacca Batang Hash (MBH)
(iv) Malacca Hash House Harriers (MH3)
(v) Malacca Orang Hutan Hash (MOH2)
(vi) Malacca Hash House Hazards (MHHH)
(vii) Kota Malacca Hash House Harriers (KMH3)
(viii) Malacca Full Moon Hash (MFMH)
Other than MSH, MSH4, MH3 and MFMH which are mixed chapters, the rest are man-only chapters. All of them run weekly on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, except MFMH which runs once a month on Full Moon day.
With the object of fostering better friendship and interaction among all the said hashing chapters, the Malacca Hash Council (MHC) was formed recently. Its first task was organizing the first Chinese New Year Run on 31-1-2009 with the object of socializing as well as raising some promotion fund for its intended bidding for the13th Pan Asia Hash 2011 for Malacca hash at the coming 12th Pan Asia Hash 2009 in Angeles City, Philippines in March, 2009.
It was a fine sunny Saturday afternoon. The run was set at Taman Cheng Baru housing estate which is some 10 km north of Malacca city. Out of some 250 hashers who registered, only some 70 turned up. Among them were Cocker, Ali Baba, James Bond, Rasputin, Rubbish Bui, Denis the Menace, Carol the Twin Towers, Mary Chong, Porcupine, Tan Sri, Killer Tony, Kai Ma, Kuan Yim Ma, Mary Josephine, SYT, Capt. Tay, Chickadee, Helen, Baby Elephant, Hawaii Goh, Nancy, Speedy Gonzales, Kiasu Lee, Ranger, Bombastic, Dr. Linkun, Hot Pussy, my partner and I. As usual, greetings were exchanged and cock and bull stories were told.
The run was set by MBH. It was at 5.00 pm that the run was flagged-off by James Bond after a short and sweet warm-up exercise and briefing. The paper led south on the tarred road for a short distance before passing by a Chinese Christian cemetery where it led uphill into a jungle. A short while later, it passed by another Chinese cemetery on the right before arriving at the hilltop. It then meandered downhill and uphill in an oil palm plantation for some 15 minutes before arriving at the top of the second hill where a communication tower stands. From there we could see the beautiful scenery of nearby Ayer Keroh - Sungai Udang Highway. As back runners, we have not encountered any checks which might have been joined by the front runners.
The paper continued to meander downhill for some 10 minutes before trudging up a higher steep hill which made climbing difficult even with the aid of few ropes provided. It made us panting and sweating profusely. However, as devoted hashers, we took the challenge with determination.
After trudging down the said hill for some 10 minutes, the paper hit the fourth and last milder steep hill which made the climb easier. But its descent was tougher as it was steeper. On arrival at it foot, it hit the last Chinese cemetery at Krubong. After crossing a small drain, it turned right into a small jungle. It exited a short while later at Taman Bukit Cheng housing estate which led to the home trail. From then on, it was another some 20 minutes run on the tarred road through Taman Desa Damai house estate before arriving back at the run-site where the front, SCBs and non-runners were enjoying their cold beer. Of course its residents were amazed to see us crazy hashers chasing after the paper for no apparent reason.
It was quite a tough hilly run of some 7 km. The last runners were back at around 7.00 pm when the sky was still bright.
Hash run without a circle is incomplete. As usual, it saw a number of sinners being put on ice and on-downed.
On On was held at the nearby Siang Yen Restaurant. It was well attended with 15 tables fully occupied. A 6-course delicious Chinese dinner was served with free-flowing beer. In attendance was a live band led by Dr. Dave, Pecker and Anthony. A number of avid hashers took the floor to dance wildly. Lucky draws were conducted. Besides, each hasher was given a big goodies bag of mouth-watering tidbits and a beautiful T-shirt.
It was a memorable Malacca Hash Council Chinese New Year Run. Having run with the Malacca hashes since 1991, it is doubtless that Malacca is an ideal place to host the impending 13th Pan Asia Hash 2011. So feel free to vote for it at the coming 12th Pan Asia Hash 2009 in Angeles City, Philippines on 6-3-2009. See you there, fellow hashers!
On On!
