Rehashed run1826 - Christmas Run

Rehashed Run No: 1826; Hare/Occasion: Christian Connection/Christmas Run; Date: 29th December, 2009; Venue: Melaka Raya.

A Unique And Memorable Christmas Run

Christmas Run is one of the 4 festival runs celebrated yearly by Malacca Hash House Harriers. The other 3 are Chinese New Year Run, Deepavali Run and Vasaki Run. They used to be celebrated grandly with big turnout.

Come last 29th December it was the Christmas Run for the year 2009. It was held at Melaka Raya which is situated in the heart of Malacca City. As expected, it had attracted a big turnout which included a number of guests from other hashing chapters.

It was a fine Tuesday afternoon. On my early arrival at the virgin run site in front of the newly opened Hash House Hotel with my partner, we met Horlicks and Dirk Limann a.k.a. Kaiser. As oldies who were longing for a good sweat-out, Dirk Limann, my partner and I started the run as early birds at 5.20 pm by following the white chalk marking which led southeast towards Dataran Merdeka which was crowded with tourists. It then went up and down on staircase through St. Paul Hill, southward through A Formosa, Equatorial Hotel and High School for some 20 minutes before hitting the first tricky check at a T-junction. Its connecting white chalk marking was found by Dirk Limann on a narrow road a short distance away at Kampung Banda Kaba village some 5 minutes later after a spread-out search. Understandably we did not join the trail for reasons that we were early birds not equipped with white chalk.

The white chalk marking then led eastward through a housing estate for some 10 minutes before hitting the second tricky check by the side of Jalan Bukit China road. Another spread-out check of some 5 minutes led to my partner finding its connecting white chalk marking on a stone half way up the Bukit China hill some 100 metres ahead.

The white chalk marking continued to proceed uphill for a short distance before hitting a jogging track and led right through the Bukit China Chinese cemetery where we encountered a number of casual joggers. After going through the undulating terrains for some 10 minutes, it led downhill to Jalan Bukit Selindek road where it hit the third and last check at a T-junction.

Another spread-out check led Dirk Limann to finding its connecting white chalk marking a short distance ahead across the road near Helen Of Troy’s house. From then on, it was a road run eastward uphill and downhill across a Christian cemetery, south and eastward across the Bukit Selindek Park, westward across a Teacher Training College and housing estate, uphill and downhill across the northern section of Bukit China Chinese cemetery, and northward along the Jalan Durian Daun road for another some 50 minutes before arriving at Taman Rempah car park, Pengkalan Rama at 7.00 pm where a big pack of SCB and non runners were enjoying their drinks and light food. Among them were Ranger, Hawaii Goh, Nancy, Sexy Chan, Killer Tony, Albert, SYT, Helen Of Troy and a few guests. On the way a few minutes earlier, we were being caught up by scheduled runners 4896, Govind, Speedy Gonzales, ICI Chee, Nanda and Gobalakrishnan. As time passed by, more runners trickled in. They included GM Dennis the Menace. The last runners were back some 30 minutes later when the sky began to fall dark. In appreciation of our participation, each harrier was given a beautiful red T-shirt and harriet a beautiful and sexy red skirt.

It was a medium, city run of some 7 km at this virgin run site. According to GM Dennis the Menace, it was set single handedly by his other half, Carol the Twin Towers who had just returned from her vacation, with a recce a day before accompanied by him. A big salute to them for their good effort.

Hash circle was conducted by GM Dennis the Menace. As usual, it saw a big number of sinners being put on ice and on-downed. It ended at around 8.00 pm after which we took a boat ride in 2 boats along the scenic Malacca River arriving back at the run site 20 minutes later.

On In was held at the pub cum restaurant of Hash House Hotel operated jointly by a couple of devoted veteran hashers which is said to be the only one in Malaysia. Fellow hashers are welcome to patronize it to meet and socialize with one and other. It was well attended by some 60 hashers who included a number of guests. We were entertained with a sumptuous buffet dinner with free-flowing Tiger beer. Another on-downed session was held for the sinners. It was then announced by GM Dennis the Menace that the coming run of volunteer hare Dirk Limann on 5th January, 2010 would be held at Bemban – Air Panas Road, Bemban. It was at around 10.30 pm that my partner and I departed for home as early birds when the party was still on.

It was a unique and enjoyable first Christmas Run in Malacca City by MH3 which I have ever attended. The food and drinks were on the Christmas Connection. A big thanks. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

See you at the coming run of Dirk Limann, fellow hashers!

On! On!

Scribe: Drug Buster,
Malacca Hash House Harriers.

Date: 3rd January, 2010.