Taking Part

What we do

Hashing is a form of social, non-competitive running.

A trail will have been laid by the hares, usually using “blobs” of flour and the other hashers try to find the correct route. Some of the trails will be false so the faster runners will have to run further than the slower ones as they will be checking all the possible routes.

Trails are generally around 4-6 miles and good hares will ensure that the faster runners are kept busy checking the correct trail and so the pack is broadly kept together. Short-cuts maybe provided for slower runners or walkers.

There are Hash House Harrier groups (Kennels, Chapters, Packs etc.) all over the world – each one has different methods for setting trails and use different markings. It is often said that there is only one rule in Hashing: There are no rules!

Berkshire Conventions

Berkshire Hash House Harriers (BH3) normally runs in the winter at 11am on Sundays and in the summer at 7pm on Mondays from a Pub, village hall or car-park – times may vary on Bank Holidays. Trails are usually in the country, as much off-road as possible and can be muddy in winter.

The trail is normally marked using flour.

Standard Marks

A blob of flour or occasionally an arrow marks the trail. These could be on the ground, on trees or fence posts etc.  They are not hidden but they may be placed where you can't see them from a distance or behind objects such as trees or lamp posts particularly just after a check. The correct trail will be continuously marked with blobs which may be anything between 10-100 or more yards/metres apart. No flour for over 200 yards/metres means that you have probably gone the wrong way.

A circle of flour – A “Check”. i.e. trail may go off in any direction

All checks are on the correct trail; blobs of flour may lead in any direction. 4 consecutive blobs indicates the correct trail. A False Trail should be marked with an F after the 2nd or 3rd blob from the check.

A circle with a blob in the middle is a “one blob check” – the correct trail is found after just one blob of flour.

Two-way check, as indicated – route can only go in one of two directions
Once the route has been found, the check should be kicked through to mark the correct direction.

False trail - An F (or sometimes an X ) Go back to the check and check alternative routes.

Bar check  -Go back one blob of flour – trail is off to the side – next blob is on-trail. Occasionally there may be a number associated with the bar – then the pack should go back that number of blobs to look for the trail.

Other Marks

RG - Regroup sometimes in a circle (or sometimes a circle with an  X in it). Regroups the pack, allows slower runners to catch up. Wait here until further instructions from hares.

FC – Field Check sometimes in a circle. Used when the trail enters a field and could go in any direction.

S / SC – Short-cut, for the slower or weaker runners.

L – A longer route for fools or athletes!

W – Walkers’ route.

P - “Petrol” Warns of an upcoming road or traffic.

ON INN - The end of the trail is nigh.

Calls

Front runners should always call to help those behind find the correct trail and warn of hazards.

“On Out” called at the beginning to urge the pack the start running.

1st blob of flour “On one”

2nd blob of flour “On two”

3rd blob of flour “On three”

4th blob of flour “On On” the correct trail is found.

“On Check” Circle of flour – trail can go anywhere, check for flour and call. Next hasher checks another route etc.

“Checking” Checking for possible trail from a check.

“Looking” Looking for possible trail – when not from a check

“False trail” When an F is found showing a False Trail.

“Lost trail” When flour can’t be found.

“On back” Call hashers back when on-on is called in another direction.

“Are you” Checks whether hashers are On trail, or when separated from the pack to find out if anyone is in earshot.

“Bar check”  Line of flour across path – go back to the last blob of flour and the trail is off to one side. Next blob of flour is on.

“Wire”, “Hole”, “Shiggy” (mud), “Head” (low headroom), “Petrol” etc. Warn hashers behind of hazards.

“On inn” On sighting the ON INN mark.

Variants

At the Hares’ discretion they may use alternative or additional markings and these should be explained at the start. e.g.

A cross in a circle may be used to mark a Regroup.

Live trail – the hare overslept or forgot to lay the trail and so will set off a short time before the pack and lay down flour as they go.

Chalk used to mark the trail in towns or on tarmac.

Sawdust used to mark the trail on snow.

Fewer than 4 blobs to indicate the correct trail.

Fish-hook – use of the fish-hook mark is an abomination.