SCENARIO PAINTBALL 2006-7
by Al Murray, PBUK Issue 45
Finding ourselves, as we do, at a bit of a loose end before the start of the new season with Flashpoint in March I thought it might be a good idea to take a quick look back over 2006 whilst also looking forward to what we might expect 2007 to bring.
In the context of scenario paintball, the past 12 months saw a few highs and lows and a real low point was the tragic loss through illness of John “Spike” Medland of the Wild Geese who I think it’s fair to say was one of the real driving forces behind UK scenario paintball. Spike was a very popular and influential figure and will be sorely missed. No doubt Flashpoint will take on a greater significance this year for all those who attend.
In early December the 2006 PBUK Awards were held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Wetherby and the event was well attended by both the scenario and tournament fraternities. The well deserved accolade of UK Scenario Team of the Year stayed north of the border, going this year to the Scottish Warriors whilst Best New Team went to Plymouth University Paintball Team (PUPS). Best UK player went to SPC’s Andy Coulter with best young player going to Armotech’s Kyle Stanwick.
2006 saw the introduction of the “air pass” system in an effort to standardise filling procedures and promote best practice. Air handling is undoubtedly an area which has been neglected over the years and whether as players, event organisers or site operators we all need to adopt a pro active approach and realise that we are all personally responsible for our own equipment and how we use it. At this point it looks like 3000psi may well become the standard for events this year and further information on the central issues relating to air can be obtained through the UKPSF.
Arguably the most obvious development in the UK scenario scene is the phenomenal growth in new events, which are springing up around the country. Last year many of these tended to be located in and around the North of England but this year players will be spoiled for choice and there should be an event within striking distance of all but the most isolated players, which can only be good news. On a cautionary note however, greater choice means more competition for the event organisers so with players having the luxury of being able to pick and choose which events they want to attend, this should encourage the organisers to pull out all the stops to offer the best value for money.
The huge growth of scenario paintball has clearly also had an impact on the walk on scene building on the interest generated by the Genesis series and the National Paintball Club. However last year also saw the arrival of a new phenomenon; the scenario walk-on. These events, such as the ones run by the Fennys at Ancaster and BZ Paintball at Yarm, combine the flavour of a scenario game with the relaxed atmosphere of a walk on and they are proving extremely popular with new and experienced players alike offering affordable, engaging play with a healthy competitive edge. I expect this format will be used more widely throughout the coming year as more teams take on this role.
Most of us are probably aware of the proposed changes in legislation relating to imitation and replica firearms which could have far reaching implications for the paintball industry as a whole but it is important that we continue to act responsibly when transporting and handling markers in order to ensure we present paintball in the most positive light possible. There may be some real challenges ahead for the industry and we all have a part to play in educating the general public about what we do and for anyone wanting to know more there are some interesting active threads on the main paintball forums.
The past year has seen quantum leaps in terms of technological advances in the industry and it is very encouraging to see the big manufacturers developing their range of scenario products with companies like Ops Gear and Special Ops producing a wide range of high quality affordable scenario accessories to customise the more popular scenario markers, greatly enhancing the look, feel and performance of the base marker. In previous years manufacturers seemed wholly preoccupied with increased rates of fire but recently upgrades and modifications have tended to focus more on making the markers more accurate, more gas efficient and more reliable. 2006 was arguably the year of the SP8 from Smart Parts and early 2007 saw the launch of the new X7 scenario marker from Tippmann which I understand Cambo will be reviewing shortly.
All things considered it is a very exciting time to be involved in scenario paintball and whilst 2006 was a great year for scenario paintball, I expect that 2007 will be the best yet.
