Welcome to Episkopi Hash House Harriers
The Episkopi Hash is one of the last gentlemen only hashes left in the world. Why gentlemen only? Well, initially when founded in 1967 by three military types from Episkopi base that was the norm for hashes. Now most of our members are of retirement age and are driven out of the house each Tuesday to give our Harriets time to themselves. How many marriages we have saved is incalculable !!
We are these days very much an informal group of mates who meet every Tuesday afternoon for a little exercise and socialising afterwards. We are, of course, always eager to meet new mates who fancy a bit of exercise. We run, jog or walk in the beautiful Cyprus countryside for around 5 km. Following a pre-laid route, known as a trail, and this is designed for most levels of fitness – shortcutting is allowed and indeed encouraged by the hares who control the run.
The run or walk takes about 45 mins. In the summer and an hour in the winter but is rarely on flat terrain as we avoid like the plague, any tarmac or built up areas.
Hashing as it is known began in the 1930’s amongst ex-pats in the Far East who decided that they needed to take some exercise and so began the phenomenon which grew into 3000 clubs worldwide. Essentially it is a paper chase and you might have done one at school or seen it like me in "The Railway Children". However to make it non-competitive and ensure that it caters for most levels of fitness hares go out the day before the hash and lay 2 trails one for the runners, joggers and plodders and one for the walkers. Then the participants (hounds) follow one of these trails, with guidance (shortcuts) being given as required by the hares.
The whole emphasis of a Hash is to exercise in an informal way without any competitive pressures and then to relax afterwards with mates over a nice cool beer or soft drink. After a suitable time of taking refreshments at the end of the run/walk we always go to a taverna for a local meal to round off the day. Being such a social club, we throughout the year, have a range of events that include our Better Halves be they on the beach (we know many deserted ones) or up in the hills. These events are either catered or we bring picnics.
Happy New Year!
The Annual Run Stats for 2019 are in!
Click Link
Hash Words does not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the Stats unless written on the back of a €20 note!!!
Hello, SBA Police.....I'd like to report a crime in progress!
Simon Carroll On Pres' Missive No 1
Welcome to the Episkopi Hash House Harriers; as the 55th On Pres' it's now my job to keep you all entertained for the next 12 months. Lockdown has proved to be a considerable challenge but hopefully we have all come through it safe and well, my heartfelt thanks go to Ex On Pres's Aubrey O'Callaghan and Mike Jones for coming up with the Zoom Virtual Runs and keeping us entertained in our own homes on Tuesday afternoons so that we could still maintain our athleticism and weekly intake of Keo and salted nuts.
The 3000th has now officially been pushed back to the weekend of the 16th - 20th April 2021. My apologies for the inconvenience if you have had to change flights or accommodation but it was felt that we had lost too many runs during lockdown and have opted to go for the gap next year between UK and Orthodox Easters. More information on that will follow.
I would like to thank the Outgoing On Pres' for his dedication and contribution over his 13 month stint as On Pres'. On, On , Aubrey.
Over the next twelve months it is my intention to grow the membership, we're not exactly the Hellfire or Bullingdon Club and some of you must know friends or associates who'd like to give up a Tuesday afternoon and become athletes like ourselves.
As the first son of an Ex On Pres' to become On Pres' my involvement with the Hash is now in its 27th year, I am a firm believer in Epi Hash traditions and values, I know times have been tight but during my tenure as On Pres' I hope we can support some of the local charities that have helped Hashers and their families in recent years.
On-On
Simon