Accolade from the Mondseeland mayors as a prelude to the 2024 European Marksmen´s Fair Meeting in Mondsee

Last weekend, the spring meeting of the European Community of Historical Marksmen (EGS) took place in Mondsee, marking the start of the European Marksmen's Meeting, which will be held in Mondsee in summer 2024. High-ranking EGS officials were guests at the event, which included the investiture of the mayors of the Mondsee region.

At a solemn investiture mass in the Mondsee Basilica, celebrated by Abbot Nikolas Thiel of Schlierbach Abbey, the Order of Knighthood "The Knighthood of St. Sebastian in Europe" was conferred. The highlight was the knighting of club members of the Mondsee Prangerschützen as well as the mayors Andreas Hammerl from St. Lorenz, Hans-Peter Bachler from Innerschwand and Johann Dittlbacher from Tiefgraben - the latter has been a member of the Mondsee Prangerschützen for seven years. Mondsee's mayor Josef Wendtner is invested as a knight at the European Riflemen's Meeting. The Knighthood is a community that has set itself the goal of actively promoting the peaceful development of a united, Christian Europe.

Shooting Queen and Princess: Prominent representatives of the EGS

Among those present at the spring conference were the Vice-Presidents of the EGS and Secretary General Peter-Olaf Hoffmann as well as the reigning shooting queen Svenja Reher and the European princess Jannika Klos. In addition to other ceremonial program items and social gatherings, the contract for the next marksmen's meeting, which will take place in Croatia in 2027, was signed in the Fürstenzimmer of Mondsee Castle. Mayor Josef Wendtner also accepted the EGS's Plankette on behalf of all Mondseeland municipalities and the Prangerschützen Mondsee.

UPPER AUSTRIA. Governor to be invested in the Order of Knights in Mondsee in 2024

The European Riflemen's Meeting will take place in Mondsee from August 30 to September 1, 2024 and will attract EGS members from all over Europe as well as shooting clubs from Austria, Bavaria and South Tyrol. Upper Austria's Governor Thomas Stelzer will be present as patron and will also be invested with the Order of the Knights as part of the festival.

"A great honor and opportunity for the Mondsee region"
In addition to the competition for the European kingship, the European Shooters' Meeting focuses on the shared experience of all shooters in Europe. Competitions in shooting, drumming and flag-waving strengthen the community of European friends. "The European Rifle Meeting is a great honor for us and for the region. We also want to make the essence of marksmen, which is unknown to many, known to the population. It's about Christian values and peaceful coexistence - we are looking forward to celebrating this amidst the beautiful backdrop of Mondseeland," says Robert Schwaighofer, Chairman of the Festverein Europaschützen 2024.

Delegation from the Mondsee region takes over the European Marksmen´s Fair Meeting

A delegation from Mondseeland consisting of the Prangerschützen, the Bürgermusikkapelle and the mayors of Mondsee, Tiefgraben and St. Lorenz made their way to Deinze in Belgium from August 18-22 to take over responsibility for the 2024 European Rifle Meeting, which will take place in Mondsee, after a festive and sporting weekend.

The European Community of Historical Marksmen consists of over 2,700 clubs from 29 countries with around one million members, who meet every three years over a weekend to crown their marksman king in a sporting competition. Around 250 shooters selected in preliminary rounds compete against each other in a small bore competition. For the first time, a woman won this competition and Svenja Reher from Münster in Germany will hold the title of European Shooting Queen until the competition in Mondsee.

The final highlight of a weekend of sporting competitions, a colorful parade of clubs through the town of Deinze, a concert by the Mondsee brass band and a convivial, peaceful and international get-together was the handover of the European Shooting Meeting to the delegation in Mondsee. One thing must be mentioned - shooting clubs as we know them here in the Salzkammergut are absolutely exotic at European level. The majority of shooting clubs are also shooting sports clubs and their athletes take part in international shooting competitions up to the Olympic Games. It is therefore a great honor that our Prangerschützen have been entrusted with the organization of the European Marksmen´s Fair Meeting in Mondsee 2024.