The Suva Hash House Harriers, an organisation that promotes healthy living and lifestyle conducts a fun run every year to commemorate the club’s anniversary.
In an article reported in The Fiji Times on January 29, 1976, almost 150 members of the prestigious club had gathered together for the club’s 150th run. The Suva Hash House Harriers had started on a grueling three-mile run through swamps, creeks, uphill, down dale, and through thick bush and villages.
About 150 women and men harriers gathered together at the old Government abattoir beside the Tamavua River, near Delainavesi, for the club’s 150th run. At the sound of a hunting horn blew, signaling the start of the race, the harriers were off with their group leader Max Storck and his horn in the lead.
The faster runners were followed by the joggers, and the women brought up the rear in sedate style. From the abattoir, the harriers ran to Reservoir Road corner where buses were waiting to take them to the Wailoku Bridge.
This was where the real running had began. First casualty was Fiji Times photographer Liam Sheehy who came to grief trying to scurry across a six inch pipe bridge. He landed in the muddy water.
Then came the leading harriers, with Max Storck blowing his hunting horn and trying to keep his feet on the wet slippery trail at the same time. The other runners were hot on his heels yelling like the Hounds of the Baskerville.
When they reached the second river stop sign on the track, some harriers began to swim the Tamavua River. The rest milled around baffled. Which was the true trail -right into the river, or straight ahead?
“All ahead, all ahead” shouted Storck as he indicated the right trail with a blow of his horn and left the swimmers trying to clamber up the steep bank. The run was half way through now, and the women were having a hard time trying to keep up with the men.
So far they had done pretty well, except for the occasional cry of alarm as one of them took the easy way downhill. The group arrived at the half way point, Tamavua-i-wai village. They waited for the stragglers who were taking their time enjoying the view.
There was a slight diversion by Kitione Bose, a member of the harriers, who was stung by two hornets. Storck, still gripping his hunting horn, gave the starting signal and, undaunted, Kitione took the lead.
All moved on ahead with cheers of encouragement from the villagers, followed by a “paraaaaa” from Storck’s horn. The last leg of the slippery sliding run had taken them running through creeks, swamp, up steep hills, down slippery dales, through bushes and villages, followed the pipeline from the Wailoku bridge running beside the Tamavua River up to the Tamavua River bridge on the Queens Road.
Suddenly there was a squeal followed by a shout of surprise as one of the female harriers took a tumble and grabbed on to a male runner. They both ended up in a tangle a few yards downhill in thick grass. Both were covered with mud.
Everyone seemed to find new strength to race ahead to the cold drinks that they knew would be waiting for them. Even the stragglers charged down the hill, slipping, sliding and yelling like at the start of the race, While the sun sank over the horizon, all the harriers were passed refreshments.
They all gathered in groups, comparing bruises, scratches, bumps, bee stings and mishaps. But there were smiles on all the faces.
