As in olde times - Friendly battle

First guy to reach the roof and shoot of a sky-rocket wins a free keg of beer. (Photo: Hans Stakelbeek/FMAX)

Every year on October 27th, at the stroke of midnight, two students take their marks on the bridge in front of the student society building located on the corner of the Buitenwatersloot and Coenderstraat. The reason for this nocturnal assembly? A race between the president of DSV De Nieuwe Delft (De Bolk) and the nestor of the adjacent Bolkhuisch. First guy to reach the roof and shoot of a sky-rocket wins a free keg of beer.
But during this ‘Nestor race’ the supporters of each racer try to impede the other. “It’s a battle all the way up the stairs”, says Thomas Arts, a De Bolk member. “There are two ways to get up to the roof: via the student house or society building. But starting weeks before the big race plans are hatched to create obstacles at certain strategic points - blocking doors and windows, throwing water balloons at the racers. Or suddenly they’ll run into a wall made of beer crates. Last year the race lasted so long the two guys collapsed in exhaustion. They finally went up to the roof together to fire off the sky-rocket.”
The nestor and president usually dress in overalls for the race and are smeared with oil, making them difficult to grab hold of. “The craziest tactics are thought of, like suddenly huge ladders appear or the president is chained up with a chain running up his shirt-sleeves.” Startled passersby ask what’s going on, “but”, explains association member John-Alan Pascoe, “it looks much more violent than it is. Really it’s just a friendly battle, and when it’s over we all drink beers together.”