A Run History of Hunter Hash House Harriers
The following tale tells something of the
runs and the identities that have set them over the years that H4
has been running around the country-side making fools of
themselves.
Here’s
a bit ov H4 History from Anniversary runs parst!
A
little is just what is known about the early days of the Hunter
H3. Legend has it that the club was formed in 1970 by a few of
the Air Force personnel from the RAAF Base at Williamtown. The
club ran sporadically and fought hard to survive in those early
days. The first documented run was run 11 on 7 May 73 at Medowie.
This run was set by Norm Lawless and Bob Wilkinson. Working back
from this, if the club ran weekly its first run would have been
on 26 Feb 73. As the real story is lost in time the club has
decided that this auspicious day in Febuary will be the official
date of its inaugural run. The clubs activities revolve around
the area between Nelson Bay and Newcastle, which abounds in fine
hashing territory....sand, bush trails, swamps, ring-ripping
scrub, creeks, bust-arse climbs, and other sweat producing
delights. 95% of our runs are scrub affairs with the odd 'pub'
run through Raymond Terrace or Stockton for variety.
On
2 Mar 75 the club was getting stronger and with a reasonable
sized pack celebrated its 50th run. This was set by Stropper
Cummings and Swampy Dartnell at Corlette beach. Fellow revellers
included Strange Dave, Mad MacInerny, Chas Morgan, Sammy Palma,
Gundy McGovern, to name a few. By now the club had firmly
cemented itself in high regard in the eyes of both the Amateur
Athletics Ass., and Actors Equity. Brian 'Howie' Howard and
Toohey Pratt came into the fold of the foolhardy and helped H4
grow towards its century of runs.
- 50th
run at Corlette Beach on 2Mar75 - Hares were Stropper
Cummins & Swampy Dartnell
- 75th
run at RAAF Base Tip on 11Aug75 - Hares were Dildo Dodson
& Xray Mannion
- 100th
run - 31 Jan 76 The 100th run was achieved on 31 Jan 76
and boasted an attendance of 88 runners............36 of
them visitors from 6 other clubs. The H4 had indeed come
of age in the world of shiggy straddling. The run was set
at Tomago by Swampy and Stropper. Back at the hall the
Canberra and Richmond Hashers entertained the mob by
singing and acting naturally. What a top night! From
there the club stablised its membership numbers to
approx. 60-70, although it is very much a floating
membership. Because about 80% of the members are
servicemen, not many of them last in the area for too
long. But, as has always been the case, when 2 or 3
members have to move on, there's 2 or 3 budding new
runners to take their place.
- 125th
run at Grahamstown Dam on 28Jun76 - Hares were
Malfunction Ellis & Toby Gunnell
- 150th
run - 4 Dec 76 This run was set by Grimps and Chuck
Hurley at Walleroo State forest. The trail was wrecked by
a force 10 gale and 40 brave souls ventured out on the
run. Only to be soon hoplessly lost following paper that
moved faster than they could. The On On was celebrated
with much enjoyment and curried prawns followed by
grilled steaks. Whacker entertained everyone by crashing
his car and Hash act after Hash act followed. In fact,
everything was there that you would expect to see at a
circus, zoo and mental asylum.
- 175th
at Merewether Gun Club in May77 - Hares were Tails Taylor
& Grimps
- 200th
run - 29 Oct 77 Mallabula beach was the venue for this
run set by Jack "Grimps" Pilgrim and Norm
"Stropper" Cummings. The ran began in searing
heat to finish off with cyclonic winds.
- 225th
at Frying Pan Creek on 8Apr78 - Hares were Nackers
Akaczonec & Trakka Hemsworth
- 250th
run at Mimi Stoney Pinch Reservoir on 23Sep78 - Hares
were Skeeta Askitis & Underdax Underwood.- Hares Bill
"Skeeta" Askitis and "Underdax"
Underwood
- 275th
run at Mimi Stoney Pinch Reservoir on 23Sep78 - Hares
were Skeeta Askitis & Underdax Underwood.
- 300th
at Uffington State Forrest on 11Aug79 - Hares were Howie
Howard & Johnno Johnston
- 333rd
run - 11 Aug 79 With the club name being Hunter Hash
House Harriers or H4 we had to have a H4 333 run and
there was. This was set by "Skeeta" Askitis and
"Clapper" McLean a pair of notorious
jockstrappers. The run was held at Gloucester and was a
real ring ripping, ball tearing and arse busting marathon
of more than two hours. Worst of all there was no grog
stop. The run headed west over the range and then back
over the top of the Buckets.
- 350th
run - 26 Jul 80 Hares John "Gorriewog" Gorrie
and Dennis "Mac" McNeal. The club celebrated
its 350th run, which, like all previous commemoration
runs, was a roaring success. The run was set at the Gan
Gan Army camp and this was the first time this venue was
used. Plenty of bush, lots of hills and some good sandy
tracks with a mid run grog stop made this a memorable
run. Many, many faces ( feet ?) have passed through the
membership files, but the club remains the same, thriving
on relaxation, variety, and good times.
- 400th
run - 27 Jun 81 With hares "Limpy" Warner and
"Skidrowe" the run was set in June from a
property outside Stroud with the hardy Hash camping by
the river. Another marathon special with more hills than
you could poke a stick at but saved by a grog stop. A
feature of the evening was the entertainment which
consisted of 8mm blue movies.
- 450th
run - 82 The 450th run also celebrated the 444th run and
both were held in the countryside around Tomago. The
second run was the first time a "recovery" run
was held by H4 and began a bit of a tradition for the
club. The 450th was set by "Prince
Bob" and ?.
- 500th
run - 83 - Who did this one and where and when
- 550th
run -84 - Who did this one and where and when
- 600th
run -85 Again the Gan Gan Army camp was the venue with
the run consisting of some top bush, hills, town running
to scare the locals and finishing off over the golf
course which put the golfers off their stroking!! Huey
was no pleased and it rained and then rained some more
and the Harriettes wouldn't share the hot showers with
the blokes.
- 650th
run - 5 May 86 Stongarm
- 700th
run - 13 Apr 87 This run was set by John
"Gorriewog" Gorrie with some help by Kops from
Newcastle Hash. The run started at the Wogs place of work
at Adamstown Heights then off to the old Highfields
railway tunnel, down through Glenrock lagoon and finally
up to the Merewether Gun Club for a piss stop. The On On
featured X-Ray filling Lou up with grog until he flashed
and chundered in that order.
- 750th
run - 11 Apr 88 Hare "Lou". Masonite Road. 10
Runners plus walkers.
- 800th
run - 3 Apr 89 - Who did this one and where
- 850th
run - 23 Apr 90 Hare Stropper. Lemon Tree Heights. 14
Runners
- 900th
run - 13 May 91 Hare Lou. Watertower at Wallsend.
- 950th
Runs - - Who did this one and where and when
- 999th
&1000th Runs on July 1993 at Gan Gan again
and Gorrywog was hare for both with Saturday’s
another marathon and Sunday’s get well up and over
the biggest hill around - good views tho’ - 66
runners for H4 Newcastle, Wagga, Illawarra, Coffs Harbour
- 1050th
run - Who did this one and where
- 1100th
run - Who did this one and where
- 1150th
run - Who did this one and where
- 1200th
run - Who did this one and where
- 1234th
run -A good run set by Whimpy in the undulating country
of Wallaroo State forest with the Hash camping out in
style. Gorrywogs recovery run turned into a bastard of a
marathon when he couldn't find a shorter way home.
- 1250th
run
- 1300th
run
- Early Runners
Some of the names
of the Harriers that ran with the club back in those hazy days
were: Dave Cuff, Ian Roy, Norm "Hoges" Lawless, Bob
Wilkinson, Tony Green, Col Alpin, Herb Hurditch, Dick Gregory,
and Alan Mumford. If anyone of knows of the above members
whereabouts, it would be great if we could get the real story
from the inaugural runners themselves.
And Some
final jokes
the con has some
advice for husbands. Always have a packet of Aspirins on hand, he
says and when you get randy, you simply hand two tablets to the
missus. When she says: "What’s that for?" you say,
"for your headache." When she says "but I haven’t
got a headache." You then say "Good then let’s
fuck."
to confession, the
young man confessed that he had committed sins of the flesh with
a new woman in town. "Her name is Pussy Pink and she is a
seductive, voluptuous redhead, and if you saw her father you’d
understand," he said. The priest granted absolution but was
intrigued about the description of the town’s new vamp. The
following Sunday he saw a well built redhead come into his church
for the first time and wearing a shortish dress, sway all the way
down the front and sit in a front pew. Nudging the organist and
nodding towards the newcomer, the priest said, "Hey, Riley,
is that Pussy Pink?" Riley turned and squinted at the woman
just as she was crossing her shapely legs. "No,
Father," he said, "Its just the sunlight coming through
the stained glass windows."
Back to Hunter Hash
House Harriers