“Magical,” says Karel van Melle, who was bowman during the race, about their third place. Just after the preliminary competition – the race that determines whether a boat is allowed participate in the finals – the four men and their helms woman were greeted as heroes on the berthing raft. Van Melle said they were every bit as good as the other teams last week, but “I thought after the places were drawn that a place in the finals would be difficult”. We managed by the skin of our teeth to beat, among others, a team from Leiden with no less than an Olympian in the boat, he says with pride.
So, pressure was kind of off in the finals. Even in the hours between the preliminary competition and the finals, the atmosphere in the team was “very jovial. We could only win even more,” says Van Melle. Soon after the starting shot, two of the seven boats made an error, as a result of which they briefly came to a halt. “Objectively looking at the other teams, you knew that your opportunity to win was not great, but when you pass two fast boats who are in trouble, the golden ‘opportunity’ (first place, ed.) briefly flashes through your head.” In the end they came third.
Even the commentators (also students) of the event were impressed, says Van Melle. An achievement that puts the small association from the south on the map. “The tears on the cheeks of some Saurus members, all the applause, the numerous people who came to cheer us on and the many hugs that we received when we moored: fantastic. I even heard someone say that this was ‘his greatest Saurus moment ever’. The association will be rejuvenated by this.” The five took their places on the bar in Saurus’s pub for a tribute last Monday.