The shooting sport has experienced an upswing in Germany in recent years. The German marksmen won four medals at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. Even if the German rifle strongholds are more likely to be in Bavaria and Lower Saxony, the Saarland clubs can also proudly present themselves. This also includes the shooting club “Ruhig Blut” Oberlinxweiler with its almost 90 members. All teams in the club shoot at a high level. Partly also in the highest Saarland league, the Landesliga. A youth shooter was even able to qualify for the German championships last year.
In sport shooting, a small black target is aimed at, which, depending on the weapon, is placed at various distances from the shooter. The goal is to hit this disc exactly in the middle and thus get the highest number of points. In a competition 40 shots are fired and in a perfect competition there are 400 points as the result on the slip of paper.
“Most people get fascinated after the first time”
Shooting clubs are often viewed with a certain amount of skepticism. It is too dangerous and no longer appropriate. Thomas Anschütz, sports warden and Jennifer Wagner, secretary of the club, have a very clear answer: “Just try it out”. If you haven’t tried it yourself, you can’t judge it. “Most people get fascinated after the first time,” says Wagner, who has only been with the club for three years. There are no age limits for shooting. “Whether young or old, everyone can contact us and start again or again.” You can also make rapid progress and celebrate successes quickly. Young sport shooters in particular demand and encourage their concentration and discipline. You learn to focus on one thing for a long time. It also requires a high body awareness to hold the weapon in one position at all times. “And the most important thing is that it is also fun,” adds Anschütz.
When it comes to weapons, the club is very flexible. In theory, everyone can choose their weapon. From air guns to sport pistols to small caliber rifles, everything is welcome. The club has ten ten-meter, five 25-meter and two 50-meter stands at its disposal. Just last year you were able to finance a new ventilation system for the 25-meter run for 37,000 euros.
But sport shooting is about more than just shooting. The community is very important. Every Sunday the sport shooters organize a “Schützenfrühstück”, the youth group go on excursions together and at the end of the competitions, eating together is not uncommon. Not only in your own club, but in the entire shooting association you know each other. As soon as you step back from the shooting range, the rivalry disappears and the atmosphere is great, explains Thomas Anschütz, sports manager of the club. They give each other tips and after the competitions they often have a cold soft drink together.
I was also allowed to try my hand at the shooting range of the Oberlinxweiler rifle club. After I had been shown the equipment and material in detail and the safety rules explained, I went to the shooting range. Aiming at the rather small target with the air rifle in hand requires a lot of concentration and calm. The ambition is quickly aroused and as a team athlete with an affinity for ball sports I can fully understand the appeal of wanting to “hit the mark”.
“Safety always comes first”
You don’t have to worry about safety at the shooting club “Ruhig Blut” Oberlinxweiler. “Safety always comes first,” emphasizes the sports warden. In addition to compliance with the general safety rules relating to the weapon, other safety measures are also taken. This includes that shooting at the shooting range can only be done with a supervisor. For youth shooters, training is strictly regulated right from the start and great importance is attached to safety.
The weapons are seen as sports equipment and must be stored and handled according to strict guidelines in accordance with the Weapons Act. The club has its own weapons that can be used during training. But if you want to get your own gun, you have to apply for a gun ownership card and observe the relevant laws.
A trial training session is open to anyone interested. The marksmen train every Friday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Newcomers and those returning to the sport are cordially invited to a trial training session. By email to sport@schuetzenverein-oberlinxweiler.de, via the Homepage or Facebook can easily be contacted with the responsible persons.
–
