Kudu Park. In a special Founder’s Day Assembly held on Monday, Tull Main, Head of the Representative Council of Learners (RCL) and second generation Camps Bay High School learner (her mother, Carla Orkin, matriculated here in 1989) took the audience on a captivating journey into the extraordinary origins of Kudu Park at Camps Bay High School.
Camps Bay High School principal, Louis Mostert, shared his excitement, saying, “An exciting revelation unfolded during the Founder’s Day assembly. With the assistance of some of our school’s alumni, Tull has recently uncovered the untold story behind the legendary Kudu Park. The tale behind the naming of Camps Bay High School’s main sports field is quite fascinating.”
As Tull Main explained, the story dates back to a remarkable incident in 1996. An eland managed to escape from the Table Mountain National Park and unexpectedly appeared on the school’s main field one morning.
“Picture it: the year is 1996, and Mr. Arthur Moore, a courageous cricket-loving teacher, successfully reintroduces the sport to Camps Bay High School. Little did he know that trying to re-introduce cricket at Camps Bay High would become a recurring theme. It was much like an endless cricket match! It turns out the students at Camps Bay have the attention span of a goldfish and prefer to avoid chasing a ball around Kudu Park all morning,” Tull Main humorously recounted.
Mr. Arthur Moore
She continued, “Mr. Moore and the ground staff were diligently tending to a lush cricket pitch. Everything seemed perfect until news broke about an elusive eland that had escaped from the Table Mountain Reserve. In those days, various antelope species roamed the mountain slopes next to UCT, across from the freeway that leads into the city. This mischievous creature possessed a talent for playing hide-and-seek with game rangers, effortlessly vaulting over fences like an Olympic high jumper, eluding capture for days!”
“Now, imagine an ordinary school morning when an eland appears on the field. Munching away on the lush grass of the cricket ground, it was a feast fit for an eland! Panic ensues as the school secretary contacts the rangers, and Mr. Moore rallies his class to witness this extraordinary sight. One of the students was Lesley de Vos. Mr. Moore, who retold the story to us, said that Lesley’s knowledge of antelope species at the time was, well, questionable at best. So Lesley decided it was Kudu and it stuck that it was a Kudu, not an eland. And just like that, the top field at Camps Bay High School is christened Kudu Park. Talk about a case of mistaken identity!” Tull Main elaborated.
During this golden era of sports at Camps Bay High, Kudu Park became synonymous with victory. The teams were unstoppable on their home turf, fueled by the spirit of the misidentified eland. Over the years, the true identity of the eland faded away, but the prefects continued to add spice to the story, leaving each new generation of Grade 8s in awe and wonder.
Unforgettable memories
Principal Louis Mostert remarked, “The extraordinary sighting of the misidentified eland left an indelible mark on our school community. It inspired us to christen our top field as Kudu Park, becoming a symbol of triumph in sports and a place where unforgettable memories were made.”
To immerse yourself in this incredible story, we invite you to watch a video clip that includes footage of the misidentified eland’s capture on Kudu Park. Additionally, you can view excerpts from a “documentary” created by our talented past pupil, Tomas Bruce-Chwatt, during his time at our school over 10 years ago. His “documentary” beautifully showcases how the legend of Kudu Park has evolved and become a cherished part of our school’s identity.
Tull Main concluded her speech by saying, “So, that’s the story of Kudu Park—the land where legends are born and hilarity ensues. Because, let’s face it, Eland Park just doesn’t have the same ring to it. As you set foot on Kudu Park, remember the absurdity that birthed its name. Embrace the laughter, treasure the memories, and keep the indomitable spirit of Kudu Park alive.”
For media inquiries, please contact: Carol van der Spuy Marketing & Communications cvanderspuy@campsbayhigh.co.za 076 359 3286
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