Rehashed Run No. 1651; Hare: Marion Chung a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty; Date: 15th August, 2006; Venue: Taman Sri Bertam, Bertam Ulu.
Malacca Hash House Harriers is a mixed chapter with a membership of 70 from all walks of life aged from mid 20 to late 60 years. It runs on Tuesday at 6.00 pm on trail set by a hare on rotation. To cater for the satisfaction of its diverse members whose objectives are to sweat-out and foster fellowship, an enjoyable run of around 8 km through the moderate terrains of scenic plantations and secondary jungle with fresh air is always set by its hare.
On 15th August, 2006 it was Sleeping Beauty’s turn to be the hare. She is a veteran hasher who enjoys leisure stroll better than hectic jog known to me since early 1991 when I first joined the MH3 after migrating to Malacca from Kuala Lumpur. As such, on her request, I have readily agreed to assist her to set her run.
Bertam Ulu is a popular hashing runsite covered with secondary jungle, rubber, oil-palm and fruit plantations on undulating and hilly terrains which offers many choices to set a good run. It is tucked away in the outskirts some 15 km north of Malacca city.
For the purpose of setting a good and enjoyable run, a ‘reccee’ (survey) was conducted on the runsite a day before the run. The hare, my partner and I arrived at the runsite at 3.30 pm where a small discussion was held on the in-trail, route pattern, number of check/false trail and out-trail. Armed with some shredded white papers to mark the trail, a knife to clear the bush on the trail, a torch light in preparation for nightfall, a handphone in preparation for emergency contact and a bottle of drinking water to replenish the lost sweat, we followed the laterite road on the left and uphill into an undulating rubber plantation for 25 minutes when we hit a T-junction where the intended first check was marked with some white papers for future reference. On the way, to make the run more interesting, the trail went up and down a small undulating hill for some 400 meters. The connecting trail was marked behind a rubber tree some 100 meters ahead.
The trail then headed further north through the serene rubber plantation for about 1 km, turned right downhill and uphill along the outer fencing of an orchard with sweet jackfruit smell, across a deep stream and uphill for the next 25 minutes before hitting the second simple check on a laterite road with its connecting trail some 80 meters on the left. They were marked with papers.
After crossing an open field, the trail led into an oil palm plantation, meandering uphill, downhill and uphill again on a broad laterite road for anther 20 minutes before hitting the first and only false trail in front of a fence-up farm house. The intention was to make the front runners run more as well as slowing them down for the slow runners to catch up. The connecting trail was placed some 50 meters on the right of the back trail 150 meters away. They were again marked with papers.
The trail then went across a barbwire fencing, through a short stretch of oil palm plantation, turned right on a broad, hilly and open laterite road and turned right again uphill into another oil palm plantation before hitting the third and last check at its top 25 minutes later after a tiring ascent. It was another simple check. The connecting trail was located 20 meters on the right. The decision was made after consulting a local oil palm contractor who was harvesting the fruits on the various routes to the runsite. Papers were marked at those locations.
From then on, it was a plain sailing 2-km home trail meandering through the rubber and fruit plantation paths and laterite roads.
It took us 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete the ‘reccee’. The distance was about 8 km.
On the following day, as appointed, Sleeping Beauty, Sharpshooter Robert, Rubish Bui, my partner and I gathered at the runsite at 3.45 pm. The weather then was fine. After arming ourselves with all the necessary paraphernalia which included two plastic bags of shredded white papers, we set out to lay the paper on the ‘recceed’ trail. For ease of sighting, a reasonable amount of papers were placed on the trail, false trail and checks. For safety, papers were also stuck on the barbwire fencing and placed around the bushy holes on the ground. In addition, the hare had also placed some colourful papers at a few selected locations for decoration. To avoid boredom and add fun during our leisure stroll, cock and bull and grandfather stories were told. We were back at the runsite at 6.10 pm after all the scheduled runners had left.
The turnout for this run was about 50. They included GM Cocker, ex-GM Vibrator, Websitekang, Lynn, Bombastic, Kiasu Lee, Vijai, Tongkat Ali, Gerald, Hawaii Goh and partner, Holly Leong, Vigraman and partner, Gerald, Utom Singh and a few guests. The first runner to come out at 6.45 pm was Bombastic who was closely followed by Vijay and a charming guest. They were SCBs who shortcut from the second check. They were followed by the first full trail runner Tan Yen Lye who emerged 20 minutes later after running for 58 minutes. He was closely followed by Dr. Pandirajah, Mary and Lynn. As time passed by, more full trail runners were seen trickling in. They included Kiasu Lee, Websitekang, GM Cocker, Vibrator, James Kuah, Tongkat Ali, Gerald, Utom Singh, Holly Leong, Hawaii Goh and partner. The last runners who came back at 7.40 pm when the sky began to turn dark were four guests. Feedback received from some runners stated that it was a good run on new route. Many expected that the out trail to be on the left of runsite. Of course we, the hare and co-hares, were happy that our efforts were not wasted.
Hash circle was conducted jointly by new GM Cocker and Vibrator. It was well attended. As usual, the hare, the sinners and the guests were put on ice and on-downed.
On-On was held at the Siang Yen Restaurant in Cheng Baru. Four tables were taken up. A six course delicious Chinese food was served. The hare and all the co-hares were on-downed. The food was partly subsidized by the hare. Thanks. On! On!
Scribe: Drug Buster
Date: 18th August, 2006