Page 45 - KBHA BULLETIN 4
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wonderful venues at low tide. The excitement and the atmosphere on a late summer afternoon
were unforgettable. (Fig. 2.27.)
According to Doug Hopwood, CSSM started the initial games on the small and lop-sided Danger
Beach at St. James and before long a league was established incorporating Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay,
St. James and Muizenberg. Rastus Werge of St. James was the co-ordinator and he later brought
in 3 rugby club teams, Villagers, Hamiltons & False Bay. Kalk Bay won the championship on at
least 2 occasions, as did Fish Hoek, despite the opposition from the Rugby Clubs. Kalk Bay’s
success was due mainly to, Goff Jennings, Cyril ‘Kaizer’ Hammond, subsequently a Springbok
badminton player, Doug ‘Hoppy’ Hopwood, a Nuffield cricketer and later Springbok 8th man,
Alan McCallum our alert goalie, and Roley Hunt, a sharp defender.
Teenagers Mature into Achievers
People need heroes and here are some of the achievers of our circle. I have already mentioned
Doug Hopwood. In 1961 the President of the English Rugby Football Union said: “Doug
Hopwood is the finest loose forward the game has ever seen.”
The summer wind also gave birth to two outstanding sailors. Arthur Holgate who would
entertain us with stories of his whaling adventures and the beauty of the Antarctic. Then as his
business prospered he built successfully larger steel schooners, ending up with an 80 footer
which he sailed single-handed to Newport, Rhode Island, only to be killed by a reckless driver
who mounted the pavement on which he was walking.
Derek Louwrens started sailing in our small group in a 14-foot open dinghy and then went on to
put a great amount into the noble sport. He was chairman of the local region of the Cruising
Association of S. A. for about 10 years. He skippered in three Trans Atlantic races, won three
Agulhas / Double Cape races, was Commodore of the False Bay Yacht Club, and was President
of the Race Officers Association. A record to be proud of.
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