Cash for hash harriers

Grant for ‘drinks club with running problem’

A SOCIAL cross country event, run by organisers with bizarre nicknames including “Mole”, “Prostitute” and “Master Farter”, is expected to reap thousands of dollars for the Far North.

Port Douglas will next year host the Tropical North Queensland Croc Nash Hash, an event involving members of Hash House Harrier clubs across Australia.

The early May event, which at one point will involve partic- ipants of both genders running in red dresses, has received a $10,000 endorsement from the Palaszczuk government.

It has been funded under the Queensland Destination Events Program.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones said the investment would help organisers with marketing costs, strategic plan development and hiring staff in addition to infrastructure.

“Under the Palaszczuk government, the value of Queensland’s calendar of major events has more than doubled. This year, it’s tipped to generate about $780 million for our state,” she said.

House Hash Harriers is a worldwide social running movement involving participants following a cross-country trail to the end, where they enjoy food and beer.

The race, called a hash, is non-competitive.

Clubs have been referred notoriously to as being “drinking clubs with a running problem”.

Croc Nash Hash organiser Roslyn “Mole” Smith said up to 750 people were expected to participate in the interclub event.

Despite the Hash’s mascot being a beer-swilling croc, she downplayed the boozy aspect of the event.

“House Hash Harriers is a social running group, so if you want to drink water, you drink water,” she said.

“If you want to drink beer, you can drink beer.

“You don’t have to drink anything, and I’ve been running with House Hash Harriers for 25 years, and in this day and age, most people don’t drink a lot when they participate, because you get caught for drink-driving.”

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