BHHH in Oxfordshire

The Berne branch of an internationally organised running club chose the Greyhound Inn at Letcombe Regis as the starting point for their recent weekend run. The Hash House Harriers are a social group who describe themselves as `a drinking club with a running problem,' which they solve by meeting together for an energetic cross-country event on a paper chase or marker principle, with the race leader, the `hare' leading the pack on the route of his choice. The `hare' for the Letcombe Regis run was "Mean Streak", who provides the link between a downland village and Berne, in Switzerland. He was, until recently, working in Berne, and now that he has returned to his home near Wantage, he invited members of the Swiss branch of the runners to spend a weekend here. On the Saturday, he led them on a two hour run which took them on a section of the Ridgeway. The main run is traditionally followed by a `hangover run' of a shorter distance, at a more leisurely pace on the Sunday, and this, like the social run, was followed by a social gathering at Mean Streak's home.

About 30 people took part, including a number of local runners, some of whom are members of the North Wiltshire and Bicester branches of the Hash House Harriers. The organisation's history dates back over 60 years, when it was started by Mr. A.S. Gispert and a group of friends who met in a Chinese cafe in the country which is now Malaysia, a few years before the start of the Second World War. After a break during the war, it was spread into other countries by its former members. It now has well over 100,000 members, with branches in Australia, the USA, Hong Kong and many parts of Europe. Mean Streak himself runs with the local groups when he is at home, and following weekend he was running with the North Wiltshire club from a starting point in Gloucestershire, again at a local pub. Sometimes the runs are in fancy dress, such as the Ides of March run, which required the runners to don togas.

Wantage and Grove Review
Issue Nr. 54
Wednesday, April 29, 1998