Hashing in Cyprus

Cyprus was in the forefront of the hashing explosion, and there have been active hashes here since 1967.

Click on the underscored names to follow a link to their web sites

Dhekelia H3 was founded in January 1967, just beating Sydney to it as the first hash outside Malaysia/Singapore. The then Deputy commander British Forces in Cyprus, Gris Davies Scourfield, was approached by one of his junior officers (believed to be Ray Thornton) and asked if it would be possible to set up a hash at Dhekelia. Gris replied that not only was it possible, but that he would run in it and be the first On Pres! This is now an open hash running on Wednesday afternoons

Six months later he was transferred to  Episkopi (the other British base \par in Cyprus) where he started Epi Hash and they celebrated their 2000th run in May 2004 and their 2300th run in Feb of 2008.

Polygon H3 was set up in the third, (and much smaller) British base in Cyprus, Agios Nicolaous by a pair of hashers who were pissed off by the idea of not being able to take their wives or girlfriends hashing. Why Polygon? The base at Ay Nik is roughly shaped like a polygon!  They are an open and family hash,  They celebrated their 1000th run in September 2000 and will celebrate their 1200th run in April 2004 by crossing en masse to the other side for Easter weekend (open to all hashers). Fred Sweetie Ayris is HM.

Larnaca and Amathus were set up within two weeks of each other, quite independently with Larnaca beating Amathus to it by a short head in late May, 1987. Larnaca H3 were first based in a pub called the Railway, which has since closed down. Their initial mainstays were a bunch of telecom/software engineers who were based here. Their current senior veteran is George Whiteman, founder of Little Sai Wan and Scarborough H3s and now retired here. After the software project closed down George carried Larnaca pretty well on his shoulders for some years until they built up a community of their own. They are a very family oriented hash (clean names, #1 on Flying Boogers Hash Scale) but continue to thrive and regularly muster 40+. They are in the practice of regrouping at every check, which makes for slowish runs. They  will celebrate their 900th Run in April 2004. Mary Ragcake Ayris is HM.

Nicosia started up a year later in 1988, founded by Duncan Kirby among others, and have the largest number of Cypriots running with them (about 50%). They are a hard running hash with the usual dip. corps contingent found in any capital city hash. They run Tuesday nights. All details can be found on their webpage (see Hash Contacts below ). \par \par The terrain in Cyprus is basically Mediterranean scrub with small hills and valleys. Temperature ranges from about 12 f 16 C and wet/windy in January/February, up to 38 C and bakingly hot in August. Nicosia H4 celebrateed their 1000th run in November 2007.

Amathus H3 is also the parent of the randomly and infrequently run Amathus BASH (Bike Hash).

Pancyprian Full Moon The Pancyprian Full Moon (Panselinos in Greek) Hash House Harriers was founded in August 1993 by David (Verbil Gerbil) Ayres and Bambos (Inner Tube) Spanoudes as they felt that the NH4 weekly trot was not claiming enough victims and their sadistic nature needed more excitement. P2H3 meets monthly on or near the night of the Full Moon (surprise, surprise). It is generally held on a Wednesday or Friday or Saturday night. Venues vary, but are (almost) always in a rural location. For weekend dates they may be in a remote part of the island.  By tradition there are two special weekend events - one in the Winter and one in the summer, which are somewhat reminiscent of Dionysian rituals.  Runs are typically 8 - 10km, mainly cross-country, they invariably include hill climbs, scrub, water and lots of general shiggy. There is usually no short run and no holding checks.  After the run food is usually available at own cost in a local restaurant.  Run fee C£1,00.  Contact: Wendy BlueTits Saxon (04) 645 561

Kition is a Wedneday evening town run.  Kition H3 is thriving but is dominated by walkers - runs start from various pubs and bars in Larnaca and they usually eat/drink at the same place after the run. The founders were George (Capt Oates)  Whiteman and Dennis (Curved Balls) Labdon

Happy Valley is Cyprus' newest Hash, meeting on Thursday afternoons, usually around the western end of Limassol district.  There is a walk and a run and further information can be obtain by contacting Mike the Pipe (aka Mike Hasney) on 99 434794 or michaelhasney@yahoo.co.uk