In the Spotlight – Greece
By Ed "Hazukashii" Howell
7 Apr 2020
I may be reaching here, but would guess that Athens might very well be on many a hasher's bucket list. In my case, it was for viewing the Parthenon and the many other ancient ruins. On an adjacent hilltop you will also find three other interesting sites; the Altar of Zeus Agoraios, Meton's metonic calendar, and the Pnyx. You may not have heard of the Pnyx, but this is where ancient Athenians gathered as early as 507 BC to host popular assemblies, thus making it the birthplace for the political system called democracy. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the food, oh the food. On my recent visit to Athens I could not get enough of those traditional Greek salads, with the rich and juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, assorted olives and other ingredients . . . not to mention the Tzatziki, and Gyros. There is so much to love about Athens, and all of Greece (including the islands), that you will just have to go and see it all for yourself.
Fortunately for us, the Hash House Harriers have also established a footprint on the history of Greece. How did hashing arrive in Greece you may ask . . . well let me tell you. Piecing together the trail, leads us back to Croatia, and the Zagreb H3. The Zagreb H3 was founded by Paul Redmond in 1975, and after completing his consular duties in Croatia, Redmond moved on to Greece and established the Athens H3, setting the first trail on 10 Dec 1978. Assisted by Brian Grey and Jason Mathews, the Athens H3 has flourished over the past four plus decades.
Like many cities around the world, the Athens H3 has seen its highs and lows, with huge packs and small packs. Arriving in late February on my recent visit, the COVID-19 news was just beginning to surface. That did not interfere with the hash running an excellent trail along the northern edge of the city. We had a pack of about a dozen including children, with about half runners and half walkers. The theme for the day was festival garb, and the local hashers were dressed up in their best beads and happy hats. After trail, and an entertaining circle, we walked to a nearby restaurant where we feasted, family style, on a wide assortment of tasty Greek dishes. You may have also heard about Greek wine, which we also sampled quite liberally.
Although the Athens H3 is currently the only hash still active, at one time the Athens Honeys H3 also enjoyed running trails in Athens, and they were founded on 17 Oct 1982. Unfortunately, there is no founder listed in the hash genealogy, but there is a third hash club listed, called the Twin Cheeks Moonshine H3. This club was founded on 18 Apr 2000, by Brian "Strawbelly Foreskin" Kirman, although that is probably a fat finger typo for Strawberry Foreskin. While there are many reasons to visit Athens, between all the glorious meals you will enjoy, make sure you take time to catch the Athens H3 on a Sunday, at 11 O'clock in the morning. You will not be disappointed.
For many more articles like this on the history of hashing, check out . . . http://gotothehash.net/history/inthespotlight.html
-- 7 Apr 2020
I may be reaching here, but would guess that Athens might very well be on many a hasher's bucket list. In my case, it was for viewing the Parthenon and the many other ancient ruins. On an adjacent hilltop you will also find three other interesting sites; the Altar of Zeus Agoraios, Meton's metonic calendar, and the Pnyx. You may not have heard of the Pnyx, but this is where ancient Athenians gathered as early as 507 BC to host popular assemblies, thus making it the birthplace for the political system called democracy. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the food, oh the food. On my recent visit to Athens I could not get enough of those traditional Greek salads, with the rich and juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, assorted olives and other ingredients . . . not to mention the Tzatziki, and Gyros. There is so much to love about Athens, and all of Greece (including the islands), that you will just have to go and see it all for yourself.
Fortunately for us, the Hash House Harriers have also established a footprint on the history of Greece. How did hashing arrive in Greece you may ask . . . well let me tell you. Piecing together the trail, leads us back to Croatia, and the Zagreb H3. The Zagreb H3 was founded by Paul Redmond in 1975, and after completing his consular duties in Croatia, Redmond moved on to Greece and established the Athens H3, setting the first trail on 10 Dec 1978. Assisted by Brian Grey and Jason Mathews, the Athens H3 has flourished over the past four plus decades.
Like many cities around the world, the Athens H3 has seen its highs and lows, with huge packs and small packs. Arriving in late February on my recent visit, the COVID-19 news was just beginning to surface. That did not interfere with the hash running an excellent trail along the northern edge of the city. We had a pack of about a dozen including children, with about half runners and half walkers. The theme for the day was festival garb, and the local hashers were dressed up in their best beads and happy hats. After trail, and an entertaining circle, we walked to a nearby restaurant where we feasted, family style, on a wide assortment of tasty Greek dishes. You may have also heard about Greek wine, which we also sampled quite liberally.
Although the Athens H3 is currently the only hash still active, at one time the Athens Honeys H3 also enjoyed running trails in Athens, and they were founded on 17 Oct 1982. Unfortunately, there is no founder listed in the hash genealogy, but there is a third hash club listed, called the Twin Cheeks Moonshine H3. This club was founded on 18 Apr 2000, by Brian "Strawbelly Foreskin" Kirman, although that is probably a fat finger typo for Strawberry Foreskin. While there are many reasons to visit Athens, between all the glorious meals you will enjoy, make sure you take time to catch the Athens H3 on a Sunday, at 11 O'clock in the morning. You will not be disappointed.
For many more articles like this on the history of hashing, check out . . . http://gotothehash.net/history/inthespotlight.html
On on!