As the highest representatives of the EGS, they will be the focus of attention over the next three years:
European King Jozef Karol Pluta from Raceborz, Poland
European Prince Maksymilian Kuropka from Poniec, Poland
European marksmen’s gathering at Mondsee like something out of a picture book
MONDSEE. The pictures from Mondsee say it all: it was a sunny, atmospheric and colourful European marksmen’s gathering, which thrived on the wonderful backdrop of the idyllic holiday resort and the warmth of the hosts.
The European shooting family celebrated itself in Mondsee, where 15,000 enthusiasts of traditional customs from ten nations came together and 45,000 enthusiastic spectators cheered the two new European majesties from Poland during the parade on Sunday.
Framed by Grand Master Karl von Habsburg and the new President Albert-Henri de Merode, European King Jozef Karol Pluta from Ratibor and European Prince Maksymilian Kuropka from Poniec presented themselves to the passing marksmen, who proudly showed off their traditional costumes and waved cheerfully to the majesties. They bravely held out: the parade lasted three hours, and the grandstand became a sunbed at 35 degrees.
Mondsee celebrated the European idea for four days.
It was a festival of superlatives with a marquee for 7,500 guests and additional space for 5,000 visitors in the beer garden, with beer from tankers and taps that filled 1,300 beer mugs in an hour, with fun and entertainment into the night and 267 king candidates and 123 princes toasting each other.
Even the Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen stopped by. Although the protocol overlooked the Schützenadel, there were some wonderful encounters, including with the alphorn players from Korschenbroich in the Lower Rhine region, who welcomed the President with the call of the mountains.
From the European aristocracy, Grand Master Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen and his wife Christian from Portugal are in attendance. For the Belgian cosmopolitan Charles-Louis Prince of Merode and his wife Princess Clothilde, it is a farewell party, but also a
new beginning. Their son Albert-Henri Prince of Merode has taken over the office of President. After 18 years in office, his father was finally able to proclaim: ‘Vive le President!’ ‘Long live the President!’ And with that, he cheered his son. The Presidium’s thanks to the outgoing President were conveyed by Vice President Horst Thoren, who had a Sebastianus Order made for Merode from the workshop of Cologne church artist Egino Weinert.
After the plenary meeting, during which Charles-Louis de Merode and Walter Finke were honoured with gold medals, the representatives from Dormagen, the mayor and the chairman of the festival association signed the agreement for the European Shooting Festival 2030, which will be celebrated on the Rhine.
Svenja Reher and Yannika Klos, who served as European Queen and European Princess for two years but will remain connected to the European shooters as ‘Queens of Hearts’, were given a round of applause.
Marion Stimmel, the heart and soul of the General Secretariat, received a fitting gift: a cuddly little bear with the EGS logo on a yellow shirt. And Peter-Olaf Hoffmann emphasised: ‘Without Marion, nothing works here.’ General Secretary Peter-Olaf Hofmann found words of warning when commemorating the outbreak of the Second World War 85 years ago: shooters from Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Germany laid a wreath together.
Solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who have been victims of Russia’s war of aggression for more than two years, was emphasised by Karl von Habsburg, who gave a particularly warm welcome to the Ukrainian Cossacks with Viktor Fedosiuk.
The emotional highlights of the festival in quick succession:
- Knighthood for 30 deserving European shooters by Emperor Karl von Habsburg
- Solemn coronation mass with wonderful music in the Basilica of St. Michael in Mondsee
- Exciting bird shooting competition for the European title with 267 candidates under the direction of Walter Finke
- Joyful celebrations with a party atmosphere and singing President Albert-Henri de Merode (his anthem Y.M.C.A by Village People).
- The European anthem was played at the beginning and end of the grand celebration.
- Special thanks went to the organisers led by Robert Schwaighofer.
- The anticipation for the EST Karlovac in Croatia, the venue in three years’ time, was palpable when the assembled shooters from ten nations sang: ‘All men shall be brothers’.