Ikeja Hash House Harriers.

The Bush Hash

Ikeja Hash House Harriers (also known as IH3 or IHHH) is one of the Chapters or “Kennels” (as known in the Hash parlance) in Lagos, Nigeria. It had its first run on 23 May 1981 and the hare (host) is no other hasher than Jacques ‘Stir Stick’ De Steur, known as the Father of IHHH. He is from the Jakarta H3. Others are Hans ‘Snow White’ Koopman, Barry ‘The Lift’ Gauder from Jakarta H3 (1971), and Kuala Lumpur H3 (1938) respectively.

IH3 is the original bush hash in Nigeria and adopted the crocodile emblem due to the frequent sightings of crocodiles on the runs, scaring newcomers and townies alike. The runs were laid with shredded papers containing a mixture of checks and false trails called check backs, which puzzles out to the ON IN (point of beginning the run). An average IH3 run lasts 40mins at a minimum. The original home base of IH3 was GRA IKEJA, which moved to the Crocodile Bar “The Croc” in the Ajao Estate, Ikeja, Lagos from around the 1990s. Due to the Urbanization and the unavailability of friendly bushes to run, the modern IHHH runs from selected venues across the Ikeja metropolis on Saturdays with hares laying the trails on chalk and shredded paper where the bush is available. Occasionally, we venture into other territories within Lagos and Ibadan expressway and we are known for our away run trips, which include Halloween runs and other notable weekend events.

Over the years, under different mismanagements and leaderships, IH3 has birthed descendants’ kennels including Igbogodu H3 (1993), Pattaya Jungle H3 (2003), Calabar H3 (2013), Obudu H3 (2014), Owerri and Gateway H3 (2020).

What we do.

Follow the Trail for the love of beer…

The hares mark their trail with paper, chalk, sawdust, strings, or colored flour, depending on the environment and weather.

Special marks may be used to indicate a false trail, a backtrack, a shortcut, or a turn. The most commonly used mark is a “check”, indicating that hashers will have to search in any direction to find the continuation of the trail. Trails may contain a “beer check”, where the pack stops to consume beer, water, or snacks, allowing any stragglers to catch up to the group.

Red Dress Run

An event held annually by some chapters is the “Red Dress Run”. In 1987, Donna Rhinehart was taken to a hash in Long Beach, California, to be introduced to the sport. She was invited to “wait in the truck” until her host returned. Instead Rhinehart joined the hash in her red dress. The following year, the San Diego Hash House Harriers sent Rhinehart an airline ticket to attend the inaugural “Red Dress Run”. Hundreds of hashers wore red dresses for the event which was widely covered by local media.

In addressing the crowd, Rhinehart suggested that such hashes might be held to raise funds for local charities. Today the Red Dress Run is another part of the Nash Hash in Nigeria (an annual event hosted by different kennels in Nigeria).

Special Event

In addition to regularly scheduled hashes, a club or chapter may also organize other events or themed runs. Many also hold special events on their anniversaries or when they reach a milestone in the number of runs, e.g. run number 1,500 / 40th Anniversary of the Ikeja Hash House Harriers was marked with a special event run on 29^th May 2021.

Special events run may include a special weekend with several runs and evening celebrations.

Socialising

The end of a trail is an opportunity to socialize, have a drink, and observe any traditions of the individual chapter. When the hash officially ends, many members may continue socializing at an “on-after,” “on-down,” “on-on-on,” “apres,” or “hash bash,” an event held at a nearby house, pub, or restaurant.

Our Traditions.

01. Circles

Most hash events end with a group gathering known as “circle,” or less commonly as “religion.” Led by chapter leadership, the circle provides a time to socialize, sing drinking songs, recognize individuals, formally name members, or inform the group of pertinent news or upcoming events. Circles may be led by the chapter grandmaster (GM), the group’s religious advisor (RA), or by a committee. Impromptu input is welcome and solicited.

02. Down-downs

A “down-down” is a means of punishing, rewarding, or merely recognizing an individual for any action or behavior according to the customs or whims of the group. Generally, the individual in question is asked to consume without pause the contents of his or her drinking vessel or risk pouring the remaining contents on his or her head. Individuals may be recognized for outstanding service or their status as a visitor or newcomer. Down-downs also serve as punishment for misdemeanors real, imagined, or blatantly made up. Such transgressions may include: failing to stop at the beer check, pointing with a finger, pronouncing the letter “r,” or using real names. Commonly, hashers who wear new shoes to an event can be required to drink from that shoe.

03. Clothing

Hashers occasionally wear specialized clothing on the trail or to the closing circles. Common items include thick, knee-high socks (commonly referred to as “Shiggy” socks), kilts, or “happi” coats, while some chapters (aka “kennels” in hare-and-hound chapters) offer “earned” clothing such as bibs or sashes. Shiggy socks are worn to protect the shins and knees of the wearer from thorns, mud, branches, or whatever else they run through. The Hash has its own tartan for members’ kilts. Custom happi coats, originating out of Japan, are also commonly seen and made to reflect the local kennel.

04. Hash Hymn

Swing low, sweet chariot is the Hash Hymn. All Hashers recognize the Hash Hymn, and it usually commands as much respect as possible. While humorous additions or renditions to the song itself exist, it is one of the few things that remain consistent throughout the Hashing world. There is some dispute to the song’s origin; however, its persistence in the Hashing world would suggest it originated in the Singapore H3 or even from Mother H3 itself.

05. Symbols & Logos

Many Hashes have their own logo for their own Kennel. There are even custom logos made for special events like the [Nashhash]. However, due to the running theme, there are many common symbols universally attributed to the Hash that can be seen across multiple items. One such traditional symbol is the outline of a human foot (or a pair), often including the phrase “On-On.”

Hash T-shirts are among the most common things to find at a Hash, and some consider them collection material. Unique Hashes and special events usually have a Hash T-shirt that comes from recognizing participation and carry the symbols of various Kennels, dates, Hares of the run, event locations, sponsors, and more. A large sample is available in the Digital Hash T-shirt Museum

06. Hash Names

In most chapters, the use of real names during an event is discouraged. Members are typically given a “hash name,” usually in deference to a particularly notorious escapade, a personality trait, or their physical appearance. In some chapters, the name must be earned – that is, Hashers are not named until they have done something outstanding, unusual, or stupid enough to warrant one. In other chapters, the process is more mechanical, and Hashers are named after completing a certain number of events (5–10 being the most common) or setting their first run (sometimes referred to as a Virgin Hare).

Naming conventions differ from Kennels to Kennel, with some focusing on “family-friendly” names (for example: Lost My Way), innuendo (for example, Purple Vein), and some go out of their way to make the name as bawdy, offensive, or politically incorrect as possible. But in general, once named, Hashers will refer to you by that name at the Hash irrespective of the Hash itself. For the more offensive names, it might be censored in comical ways to comply with the family-friendly tone of other Kennels, but typically it is kept as-is.

Hashers who have not been named are generally referred to as “Just (Name),” “No Name (Name)” (e.g., “No Name John”), or simply “Virgin.”

Our Mismanagement Team.

The affairs of Ikeja Hash House Harriers are managed by a committee of hashers known as the Mismanagement Team.