Runners limber up for a dash in annual Santa Claus Hash

More than 100 people from the city's 13 Hash House Harrier groups put on their running shoes yesterday to raise money for this year's Santa Hash.

For those unfamiliar with hashing, the first runs started in Kuala Lumpur more than 50 years ago when the expatriate community wanted to create a leisurely pursuit involving both socialising and exercise, said Steve Taylor, a Santa Hash 2009 co-ordinator.

Those expatriates came up with an idea based on a 'paper chase', a cross-country race familiar in Britain, Taylor said.

In any hash, there are 'hares', people given a head start to lay a trail with either flour or paper, and 'hounds', a group of trackers who follow the path and sometimes have the added bonus of capturing a hare.

The sporting event is simple and fun. Competition is frowned upon. It is just a day of walking and running - followed by drinks in a 'circle', a gathering in a park or a pub.

'There's no competitiveness in it. There are people of all abilities, all ages, all backgrounds, all ethnicities. The whole thing is just to come together and have a good time,' Taylor said.