A tradition has been established for an annual joint run between the Singapore and Mother Hashes since 1996. The venue of the run is alternated between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This year 2001 it was Singapore's turn to host the event. The timing of the run is early in the year, January and February, but this has always had complications in finding a suitable date with the New Year, Chinese New Year, Kuala Lumpur's City Day, Thaipussam and other celebrations taking up some of the dates. In addition Mother Hash has always had its AGM around this time and also Mother Hash has celebrated one of the founding Fathers of Mother Hash, A.S. Gispert with a run around this time. So with the congestion of events it was decided to celebrate the Gispert Run with our fellow hashers in Singapore

Due to the poor Singapore turn out in the previous year, Bill Gartshore and Uncle Looi agreed to push the date to 10th February, since this date was close to 11th February, the day our Mother Hash Founder A. S. Gispert was killed during the battle for Singapore by the Japanese. Accordingly this became a joint Gispert Memorial Run, commencing from the Kranji War Cemetery, Bukit Timah, with the On-On at the same place. About 40 Mother Hash members were in attendance.

2001
- Joint Run- Singapore HHH & Mother Hash- Gisbert Memorial Run

(Singapore HHH run no 2073)

this report is taken from the Singapore Newsletter with thanks

Saturday 10 February 2001

Hares: Stuart Walker, John O'Rourke, Robin Huke

My Dad always used to say: "Don’t drink on an empty stomach". I’m going to tell my son: "Don’t run after a Samy’s curry lunch and ten Tigers". We had to wait so long for our visiting friends from Kampong KL that all we could do was drink. Eventually Francis Teoh borrowed Ray Ang’s phone and after 30 minutes of directions finally convinced the Mother Hash coach driver that Holland Road was not that far from the AYE. So just before 3.00pm we all met up and a good turn out of over 50 hashers enjoyed good food, drink and camaraderie until it was time to go and have as big a dump as possiblebefore the day’s main event.

With such a late repast a timely run start was always never going to be on and so it was at about 5.15 that Robin Huke led the assembled pack of over 80 hashmen up to the memorial. After an explanation of the death of A Gisbert, Robin led a minute’s silence in Gisbert’s honour.

Off for a walk through the cemetery (although one disrespectful wanker was seen to be running) and then out along the top of the cutting at the side of the Turf Club Ave; for some reason Joe Wendell thought the trail went off right, he was wrong and the sheep that went with him should have known better. It was straight along the avenue and over BKE to a real check that kept the large pack fairly together. Then we stretched out as we kept on going up and up to the top of a hill that gave our friends from Malaysia a great view of how big JB has grown. Down on to the gravel road with a small side diversion of shaggy before we went off again and up to the large reservoir and a great view of virgin Singapore. Down back to the road and some scary man made concrete block area that had all sorts of wires sticking out of it; real dangerous blood letting ankle twisting stuff.. Scribe was running (with all that food and piss inside it was more like wobbling) with ex Mother Hash OnSec Crocodile Mike and he said it would never happen in Malaysia.

Over a stream, which was the closest we got to water on the whole run and then back in along the in trail. Front runners in in ??? minutes and Scribe in as dusk was approaching. A large pack gave the guests, returnees and hares (average age 65) appropriate rewards and then JM Gartshore presented Uncle Looie with a Singapore street directory so that Mother would not lose so much drinking time on their next visit here.

Jacob was just about to tell one of his normal quality jokes when Big Geoff, Uncle Freddie and a couple of other stragglers arrived; how they managed to take so long is a mystery. They must have been collecting all those wires so that Big Geoff could use them for his train tracks in Bangkok (like his great British forefathers he builds railways in far off lands).

Some more jokes from both north and south of the Causeway and then on to excellent lamb and chicken from Mr. Ho washed down with copious quantities of San Miguels finest brew. All in a very nice day with old and new friends. On On to the 3000
 

And now Pola Singh's version:

A busload of Mother Hashers made the trip to Singapore to run with their Singapore counterparts. As in previous years, hot curry lunch was served at Samy’s Restaurant. There was a slight delay in locating the restaurant. We had a free ‘city tour’ which we could do without especially when our stomachs were growling. We reached the restaurant at 2:45 pm (a 45 minute delay) and banana leaf lunch was finally served at 3:00 pm. Fortunately the food was very good. We stayed at the Royal Hotel at Newton Road.

This year’s run was slightly different as the Run was dedicated in memory of AS Gispert – one of the founder members of Hash. Fittingly the run started at Kranji War Memorial Cemetery – the resting place of all war veterans whose bodies were never found. Gispert’s name is engraved on a special plaque on the marble wall. In his memory, a minute’s silence was observed before the run started. The face of AS Gispert is prominently displayed on the front of the special Run T-shirts. This time it was Mother Hash’s turn to print the T-shirts.

The run was excellent. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that there is still a lot of hash country in Singapore. We ran parallel to the Singapore Turf Club and then under the Bukit Timah Expressway to some army area and past the reservoir. There was the usual ‘bukits’ but not many shiggies. Checks were reasonably effective in slowing down the FROPs. First runner came in after 1:05. Everyone agreed that they had a good workout. Last ones in were Freddy, Mike Sweeting, Chee Pek and "Excellent Choice" David who took their own sweet time to complete the walk.

The usual on downs were conducted followed by a jokes session. Ted, Mike Kuan and yours truly represented Mother. Uncle Looi – chief organiser of the trip took the opportunity to thank Singapore Hash for hosting us.

The food at the On On (on-site) was really something. It was one of the best Kwai Loh food I have taken. The roast lamb was finger-licking good – not too salty and very tasty. Ask David who could not resist for more. The roast chicken was also appetizing. There was enough food for even third helpings. Of course beer was plentiful.

Thank you Singapore HHH for being the perfect host and for your great hospitality. We had a good time – the run was good, the food was excellent, the hospitality was beyond what hashers had expected. Terima Kasih to JMs Tommy & Bill and On-Sec Tore. Thanks also to the late AS Gispert for starting it all; the hashing spirit is alive, kicking and going on strong. Finally a word of thanks to Uncle Looi for making the trip possible. Uncle Looi deserves a pat on his back for single-handedly taking charge of the organisation of this enjoyable and pleasant trip. Well-done Uncle Looi. On On

Those who made the trip: Guinness Khoo, Freddy, Lum Sui, Dr Chua, Mun, Wai Kok, Uncle Looi, Cho Yon Kit, David Hirst, Patrick Coyle, Pola Singh, Fuch, Mike Kuan, Ted Quirk, Nguk Yoke Kim, Charlie Chandran, Lam Kong, Richard Chan, Goh, Francis, Rocky, Peter Cushion, Ah Wah, Geoff, Danny McBride, Poon, Yap, Chee Tiam Hee, Lee Kin Wai, Long Kok Keong, Tan Kau Hooi, Chan Voon Kong, (Apologies to those whose names have been left out. I’m still waiting for Uncle Looi to provide me the information)

By Pola Singh

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Last updated on 15 September 2001