Schützenfest BSV Erle-Middelich 1896

Shooting Club Life in Gelsenkirchen-Erle

Erle is one of the districts in the north of Gelsenkirchen, located between Buer and Resse in the northern Ruhr area (independent city of Gelsenkirchen, administrative district of Münster). As in many districts of the Ruhr area, Catholic shooting tradition shapes club life – mining company, parish church, and shooting club were historically the three pillars of district identity. The Bürgerschützenverein Erle-Middelich 1896 e.V., with its founding date of 1896, is one of the oldest clubs in the district and the social link between Erle and the neighboring district of Middelich.

Bird Shooting and Enthronement — Two Dates

Unlike the classic four-day shooting festivals of rural brotherhoods, the BSV festival is divided into two dates on two consecutive Saturdays: the first Saturday is the Vogelschießen, where a wooden bird on a pole is shot at until the last splinter falls – the shooter who makes the decisive shot becomes the new king. A week later, the festive enthronement follows – the elevation to the throne in the festival tent with coronation, king's ball, and parade. This division is common in the urban Ruhr area and allows members to organizationally separate the preparation of the coronation.

The Club in Detail

The BSV Erle-Middelich 1896 e.V. currently has several hundred members and maintains its own club grounds in Gelsenkirchen-Erle with a shooting range, clubhouse, and festival site. Thomas Timpert has been chairman for several years. The club is divided into several departments: Officers, Sports Shooters, Seniors, and Ladies. The current Emperor and Empress (the highest title after the king – whoever becomes king three times can become emperor) are Peter II and Petra I Weinert.

Youth, Seniors, Ladies

In addition to the Schützenfest, the club maintains an extensive annual program: for the youth, there is an air rifle and blowgun shooting range ("Red Dot"); the ladies meet monthly for coffee and bingo, the seniors combine shooting evenings with skat or Doppelkopf rounds, and there are training evenings for the sports shooters' department. The Schützenfest in August is the social highlight of the year, in which all departments actively participate.

Location and Arrival

The club grounds are located in the Gelsenkirchen-Erle district. Arrival by car via the A 2 or A 42 (exit Gelsenkirchen-Buer) – parking spaces around the club grounds. By public transport: bus lines from Gelsenkirchen main station towards Erle (stop Erle Mitte or Cranger Straße). Approximately 15-20 minutes travel time from Gelsenkirchen main station. Additional parking spaces will be designated for events.