The past championship did not go to the liking of the Bern-Beundenfeld A hornussers. Since the introduction of the new format, the Beundenfelders have won four championship titles, but this year the performance in the Ries was not good enough to win the title.
A Nouss fell to the ground twice and with 42, the Bernese achieved significantly fewer ranking points than the new champion Höchstetten A, who collected 53 points. So fourth place was a bitter disappointment and the men around team leader Matthias Maurer are looking for revenge at the Federal Championships.
The hornussers from the Kleinen Allmend would like to add title number 11 to their proud ten victories at a federal championship at the 40th event. In Höchstetten, the Bernese will face Wasen-Lugenbach in the Anhornussen, the same opponent against whom they conceded a number in the last championship game and therefore fell back to fourth place. It is therefore logical that the team is looking for revenge. “We had ambitions of second place in the championship. We clearly missed this goal. The federal championship now offers us the opportunity to correct the botched championship,” says Matthias Maurer, the team captain. He knows from experience how to achieve success at the federal championship, having been named best young hornusser in 2009. The long-stick player has been playing for Beundenfeld since 2017, having previously played for Lyss and Biel-Schwadernau. “We need two perfect days, then anything is possible. It doesn’t matter who we play against, we have to focus on ourselves and give our best performance on the Bock and in the Ries.” President Martin Thomet has a similar view of the situation. “It doesn’t matter that we’re starting against Wasen-Lugenbach, against whom we got a really bad result in the last championship game. We know that there’s strong competition, especially from Höchstetten and Wäseli, but we’re going to Höchstetten to win,” said the president, who counts the B team in the 3rd division among the closest favorites. Board member David Gerber also plays in this team and is traveling to Höchstetten with high ambitions. The son of former president Niklaus Gerber hopes to win a horn or even the title in the 3rd division. “We are confident that we will have two great days with all three teams and achieve our ambitious goals,” said the ambitious man, who used to guard the goal for FC Bern 1894.
Ten times winner
Even if not everything has gone to Beundenfeld’s liking recently, they can already boast of considerable success in the new millennium. Since the introduction of the new format, there have already been four title wins to celebrate, and the club has come out on top at the federal level ten times. “These successes are closely linked to the name of the former president, Niklaus Gerber, who did everything for the club,” says “Chlöisu” Gerber’s successor, Martin Thomet, who was inspired to play Hornussen by a school friend in Oberbottigen over 30 years ago.
Active Junghornuss
At HG Bern-Beundenfeld, there are not “just” three active teams in action – those in charge also place great value on looking after the next generation. The number of young hornussers is once again greater than ever. They are initiated into the secrets of the game with sticks and shingles by experienced hornussers on the Kleinen Allmend, including President Martin Thomet. What he appreciates about his favourite sport is “that hornussen is both an individual and a team sport. As a stick player, you can make a name for yourself as an individual athlete, but when it comes to throwing, the whole team has to work together.” The president also appreciates the camaraderie and the family atmosphere. “In our third team, grandchildren, father and grandfather play together – in what other sport is that possible?”
Bern – the centre of Hornussen
In Switzerland, the Swiss Hornussen Federation currently has 134 societies, 107 of which are from the canton of Bern. “Bern is so dominant because the Mittelland is ideal for Hornussen. In many other areas, the necessary space is lacking. And on top of that, Hornussen has its origins in the Emmental,” says Martin Thomet. The Beundenfeld athletes put in a relatively large amount of effort. “We train twice a week, and we also do a lot of individual fitness work. Some go to the gym, others play badminton or football as well,” reports David Gerber. We must not forget the competitions that take place during the season at
take place every weekend.
Anyone who sees the enthusiasm of the young hornussers during training has no reason to worry about the future of the Bern-Beundenfeld Hornusser Society. More drinking horns (an award like the wreath in wrestling) will undoubtedly be added to the 200 or so horns already in the trophy cabinet. Why not after the Federal Championships?
