Youngster Adam Bellendorf impresses at the crossbow championships in Bamberg!

Youngster Adam Bellendorf impresses at the crossbow championships in Bamberg!

There is reason to be happy in Bamberg-Gaustadt - the “Hofer” Bamberg-Gaustadt 1897 e.V. crossbow shooting guild has a real shooting star in its young talent Adam Bellendorf. The 10-year-old, who has been with the club for a year now, has achieved incredible success in this short time. True to the motto “If you can do it today, don’t put it off until tomorrow,” Adam really put his foot down and took up his training with enthusiasm under the guidance of trainer Gertrud Moroskow.

The training began playfully with a light dot rifle before Adam took on the challenge of freehand shooting. This methodical approach paid off: Adam shone at various championships and took notable places. He took 1st place at the district championship with 117 rings, followed by a strong 2nd place at the district championship in Grub am Forst with 122 rings. But that wasn't all: At the Bavarian Championships in Munich he came 16th with 127 rings and at the German Championships in Frankfurt am Main he was able to secure 4th place in his age group Student III Male (born 2015 + 2016). To take part, Adam had to fight his way into the 60 best young shooters in Germany. That speaks for his talent and his preparatory work.

Club and activities

The crossbow riflemen’s guild “Hofer” not only has talented shooters, but also brings a breath of fresh air to the Gaustadt rifle club. Geno and Shiva celebrate their one-year anniversary as tenants of the house. Both newbies and experienced shooters can gather here regularly. Training has been in full swing again since June. The seniors train every Wednesday from 5:30 p.m., while the youth have the opportunity to let off steam on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. General training is also offered.

The fascination for crossbow shooting is growing, not only in Bamberg-Gaustadt, but also internationally. According to the alle-schuetzenvereine.de website, the sport is enjoying increasing popularity in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. But the crossbow doesn't just have a history from a sporting perspective: Originally used as a military weapon in the Middle Ages, modern crossbows with computer-aided technology can now be found in competitions and also privately in many households. Crossbow shooting is not only a precise sport, but also a leisure activity that is attracting more and more people.

Anyone who is interested in learning the technique of crossbow shooting can do so through the shooting clubs. These ensure that the shooters shoot under controlled conditions and also support them in purchasing the necessary equipment. However, it should be noted that young people are being sought, but they are rare. The shooters have the responsibility to pass the sport on to future generations.

Adam Bellendorf and his successes are exemplary of the dynamic development of crossbow shooting in the club. In this way, he not only makes his trainer and club colleagues proud, but also motivates many other children and young people to give sport a chance - true to the motto “The journey is the destination”. The “Hofer” Bamberg-Gaustadt Crossbow Shooters Guild continues to be an important player in regional and national sporting events.