Stoney Creek Ranch (New Zealand)

Stoney Creek Ranch was a holiday and school camp at Maraekakaho near Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. It hosted the 2002 Hawke’s Bay Triples, with temporary paintball fields established on its rugby ground.[1][2]

Paintball

The ranch hosted the Hawke's Bay Triples on 2–3 February 2002. Organised by Les Hall, the tournament attracted seventeen teams playing three-player centre-flag games with a limit of 100 paintballs per player per game.[1]

Three playing fields were installed on a large rugby ground: an inflatable field supplied by Smash from Auckland, another inflatable field supplied by Tony Witheridge, and a plywood speedball field supplied by Tag n' Release. The tournament package included accommodation and meals. Players stayed in rooms equipped with bunk beds, electricity and toilet facilities.[1]

Camp closure

In June 2018, Hawke's Bay Today reported that the camp had closed because the cost of addressing ageing trees, storm damage and required facility upgrades was beyond its resources. Stoney Creek Ranch Trust chairman Colin Lister confirmed the closure while expressing hope that the camp could reopen.[2]

See also

• 2002 Hawke’s Bay Triples
• Hawke’s Bay Triples

References

1. Dazz Marshall, “Hawkes Bay 3-Man 2002”, New Zealand Paintball, February 2002. Archived 25 October 2002.
2. “Crippling health and safety costs force school camp to close”, Hawke's Bay Today, republished by Newstalk ZB, 20 June 2018.