Drensteinfurt celebrates: Michael Stephan is the new shooting king!

Drensteinfurt celebrates: Michael Stephan is the new shooting king!

The St. Johannes Drensteinfurt Citizens' Rifle Club has a new shooting king: Michael Stephan, a 49-year-old electrician, won the title of king with the 379th shot on June 14, 2025 at 5:08 p.m. His wife Andrea, who was named shooting queen, also celebrated this impressive achievement. Together they will carry on the tradition of shooting in Drensteinfurt and keep alive the customs that have deep roots in the region.

The bird “Phoenix Ignis the Imperishable” now stands as a symbol of the club’s new start and commitment to the community. Before the decisive shot, the spectators were able to witness the exciting moments when the bird's insignia was shot down. Volker Mester secured the scepter with the 135th shot, Julius Weber the imperial orb with the 147th shot, André Schulze Forsthövel the beer barrel with the 186th shot and Michael Simons the crown with the 192nd shot, who was also promoted to first lieutenant. An impressive spectacle that brilliantly showcased the shooters and musicians in Drensteinfurt.

Celebrations and parades

Over a hundred shooters and music groups proudly marched through the city center and were attracted by numerous spectators. This tradition, which brings together not only the local population but also numerous guests, goes back to the old shooting festivals that emerged from the meetings of shooting brotherhoods and clubs. Shooting festivals are folk festivals where the best shooter - in this case Michael Stephan - is determined and the tradition of shooting is celebrated. Historically, the military importance of the shooting clubs has diminished over the centuries, but the customs have been preserved and are very popular.

The Citizens' Rifle Association St. Johannes 1593 e.V. is not only an active part of this community, but also offers news and events on its homepage, inviting everyone interested to find out more about the club's history and upcoming events. In addition, the podcast “Solar Hit on the Eardrum” is available again this year and offers exciting insights into club life.

A look into the future

The St. Georg Mersch-Ameke Rifle Brotherhood had already celebrated a celebration with the young royal couple Nicolai Sipply and Johanna Niess. These regular celebrations not only reinforce community cohesion, but also show how important shooting is for local identity. The shooting festivals that take place in towns and communities around Drensteinfurt are a celebration of community and tradition.

It remains exciting to see how Michael and Andrea Stephan will organize their reign and which events will mark the calendar of the citizens' shooting club. The community is optimistic about the future and looks forward to numerous festive occasions and happy moments that they will share with each other.

Further information and reviews of past festivals can be found in the articles from wa.de and Wikipedia, which describe the cultural Take a closer look at aspects of the shooting festival and the brotherhoods.