Brighton Hash House Harriers History
The Brighton H7 (a.k.a. Brighton & Hove, Horsham & Haywards Heath H3, or BH7) was founded by Robin ‘Robo’ Salter on 5 Jun 1978 and had previously hashed in Pakistan with the Islamabad H3. In the early days he was assisted by Peter “Local Knowledge” Eastwood, Peter “Whose Shout” Beard, Phil “Chopper” Mutton, and Nick Cheyney. It was originally called the Sussex Vale H3 named after the ordnance survey map covering the run area.
Early Days of Brighton Hash House Harriers
The first Brighton Hash run set off from the Devil’s Dyke pub on the South Downs on the 26th of June 1978. In the early years, a distinctive Brighton Hash running vest was produced: a white base with a black stripe, the hash name, and the trademark feet emblem in white. (Photo: Peter “Whose Shout” Beard wearing the vest).
First English Hash House Harriers
Looking back to Mother England, the first Hash House Harrier club to form was the Longmoor H3, founded by Richard ‘Mountain Rescue’ McAllister on 12 May 1969. More information about English hash history can be found here: ItS-UK.pdf
World Hash History
The ‘Hash House’ Harriers (a.k.a. Hashing) possibly originated in December 1938 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya (now Malaysia), when a group of British businessmen began meeting on Friday evenings to run. Patterned after a British children’s game called “hare and hounds”. Two of the members would have their drivers take them to the start location, and they would lay a paper trail through various rural trails and rubber tree plantations. The pack members would be driven to the start location, and would follow the trail at a designated time. While they were running the trail, the hares’ driver would lead the pack members’ drivers to the finish point, always A to B. Many of the members lived in the Selangor Club Chambers, mockingly known for its occasionally monotonous food; it was commonly called the Hash House. The original members included, Albert Stephen (A.S.) Ignatius “G” Gispert, Cecil Lee, Frederick “Horse” Thomson, and Ronald “Torch” Bennett who joined in July 1939. A.S. Gispert suggested the name “Hash House Harriers” after the dining hall in the Selangor Club Chambers.
The philosophy of the original Hash House Harriers from the 1951 Club Registration:
● To promote physical fitness among our members
● To get rid of weekend hangovers
● To acquire a good third and to satisfy it in beer
● To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel
Loads of additional information can be found on World Hash History here: World Hash