Shooting range opens in Kongsberg with inaugural shot by Ole-Kristian Bryhn

After years of effort and planning, the new shooting range in Kongsberg has officially opened. This milestone was celebrated by Ole-Kristian Bryhn from Røyken, this year’s shooting king and winner of the TV competition “Mesternes mester,” who fired the inaugural shot.

“It’s a fantastic facility, and it’s great to see it up and running. It’s a huge honor to take the first shots,” Bryhn said. Many attendees gathered for the opening of what will serve as Buskerud’s new hub for shooting sports.

Despite having participated in the Olympics, Bryhn felt his pulse rise before firing the initial shots at the new range. “I thought it went quite well. I felt a bit of pressure with so many people around, but I managed to stay in control,” he commented.

Next year, thousands of shooters are expected to visit the new range at Heistadmoen for the national shooting championships. The journey to this point has involved late nights and countless volunteer hours. Former Kongsberg mayor Kari Anne Sand, who oversaw the project from its inception, reflected on the transformation of the site.

“It has been incredibly exciting to follow the expansion of this facility from just woods and mountains to the impressive venue it is now. The new range was built specifically for the national shooting championships, as Kongsberg and several surrounding shooting clubs applied to host the event,” Sand explained.

Bryhn, crowned shooting king for the first time this summer, hopes to defend his title at the championships in Kongsberg. “It would be amazing to replicate this year’s achievement. That’s the plan,” he stated, emphasizing that preparation will involve extensive training and mental visualization, as the competition brings unique pressure.