Hash fun reigns in rain

What do you get when you get a cross-dressing French maid, the Teletubbies and a leprechaun under one tent?

The answer is a small sample of the colourful, quirky and wonderful partygoers at Hash House Harriers’ 32nd Birthday run in Arorangi.

A mad bunch of 100 braved the elements that have almost become a feature of the 2012 Rarotonga running festival at the car park across the road from the Spaghetti House Restaurant to take part in the local group’s 1667th run.

Founded in September 1980, the social group has been actively running around and over Rarotonga and are often jovially referred to as drinkers with a running problem.

The only real issue of the afternoon was the lack of sun, but even that failed to dampen the enthusiasm of those in attendance.

Amongst those packed under the tent was the Wellington pair of Mike and Chris Leahy. In their sixth year of attending the running festival here in Rarotonga, the pair went the extra distance in their matching French maid outfits complete with stockings and garters.

Leahy said dressing up was their chance to have a bit of fun when the opportunity arose.

“After the amount of marathons we’ve done, people say that we’re mad so we thought we’d at least dress like we were mad,” she said.

Then there was the evergreen Paddy Lynch who, in his completely green outfit, resembled a leprechaun with the accent to match.

“I just like to have fun. You’re only young once,” Lynch, a former jockey, said with a twinkle in his eye.

All the regular Rarotonga Hash runners were in attendance and provided plenty of enthusiasm for those from overseas.

Peter Heays, a triumphant finisher in the main race on Saturday, was there afro-in-tow, while it almost certainly would not be a Hash birthday without the presence of High Commissioner John Carter and his symbolic jester’s hat.

The loud and enthusiastic Sydney Pussycats were there and were as cheerful as ever, while the winner of the women’s division from Saturday’s race, Lesley Turner-Hall, also braved the elements to celebrate the birthday.

The group is traditionally led by Slacker, who guided those brave enough to fight the rain through 2.5 kilometres of track supposedly marked out by blue chalk. The group returned no less than 20 minutes later a little damp but with smiles still painted on.

The Leahy pair were summoned to down a bottle of beer each as a result of their outfits as the traditional chant rang through the weather shelter.