UK Predators

UK Predators, originally known as Battlezone Predators, is a British tournament paintball team founded in the 1980s by Marcus Davis. The team became one of the leading European paintball organisations of the early 1990s, winning major tournaments in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. [1][2]

Its achievements include the 1990 Mayhem Masters, the five-player division of the 1991 Line SI International Masters and runner-up finishes at the 1992 and 1993 World Cups. [1][3][4]

Following the retirement of its original competitive roster, former members revived the UK Predators name for woodland and classic-format competition. [1][5]

History

Formation and early years

The UK Predators were founded by Marcus Davis in 1985, according to a retrospective history published in connection with the Inception Designs Retro Predator Autococker. The team initially competed under the Battlezone Predators name. [1]

Davis became involved in paintball after being introduced to the sport by his brother Nicholas. He subsequently worked as a marshal at a paintball site operated by Jim Scott, where the original Predators organisation developed. [2]

Early members included Anthony "Shiney" Elvins, who recalled previously playing alongside Davis for Bad Company before helping establish the Predators. [2]

The team competed at the 1989 Mayhem Masters in Finmere, Oxfordshire. Although unsuccessful in its first appearance, the Predators attracted the attention of visiting American players during the first US–UK paintball tour. [2]

Contemporary photographs and correspondence preserved by paintball historians document the Battlezone Predators during 1989. [2]

Mayhem Masters victory (1990)

The team's breakthrough came at the 1990 Mayhem Masters.

Led by Marcus Davis, the Predators defeated several established British teams, including Bart's Stud Squad, which had dominated the tournament during the preceding years. [2][3]

The victory established the Predators as a leading British tournament team and marked the beginning of a period of sustained success in European competition.

The team's subsequent record included multiple European championships and victories at the Campaign Cup, Mayhem Masters and other major tournaments. [1][3]

International Masters victory (1991)

In 1991, the Predators travelled to Nashville, Tennessee, to compete in the Line SI International Masters.

The team won the five-player open division using Sterling pump-action paintball markers. Historical tournament accounts identify the result as the first major American tournament victory by a European team. [3]

The Predators also competed in the ten-player division, finishing 23rd. [3]

The five-player victory was an important milestone in international paintball competition, demonstrating that European teams could win major events against established American opposition.

World Cup appearances (1992–1993)

The Predators continued competing internationally during the early 1990s.

At the 1992 World Cup in Plattekill, New York, the team finished second in the professional ten-player division, behind the All Americans and ahead of Chicago Aftershock. [4]

Historical tournament records also identify the Predators as runners-up at the 1993 World Cup, giving the team consecutive second-place finishes at one of the sport's major American tournaments. [3]

These results established the Predators as one of the leading international challengers to the dominant American professional teams of the period.

European competition (1994–1996)

The Predators maintained their position among Europe's leading tournament teams through the middle of the decade.

In April 1995, they competed at the fourth International Paintball Tournament of Toulouse in France.

The seven-player tournament attracted 36 teams in the semi-automatic divisions, including leading competitors from Britain, France and other European countries. [6]

The Predators advanced to the professional finals alongside Wolverines, Tigers, Hellwood and a Worr Game Products All-Star team.

They won the tournament ahead of Wolverines and Tigers. [6]

A contemporary report by Gareth Morgan described the Predators as the reigning European champions and one of the most consistently successful teams internationally. [6]

Marcus Davis also represented the Predators in a Worr Game Products All-Star squad alongside American captains Bob Long and Ron Kilburn, and British players Darren Doherty and Anthony Leadbetter. [6]

At the 1996 NPPL World Cup in Orlando, Florida, the Predators finished fifth in the professional ten-player division. [7]

Retirement and revival

The original Predators roster gradually withdrew from major tournament competition during the late 1990s.

A later team history identified 1999 as the end of its original competitive period. [1]

The organisation was subsequently revived by former players, including Marcus Davis, Sean Arnold, David Guile, Stephen Whyteleaf, Bart Farmer and Mark Dale. [1]

The revived team concentrated on woodland paintball and traditional mechanical-marker competition.

A team retrospective published by Inception Designs credited the returning Predators with three consecutive UK Woodland Masters series championships. [1]

Return to international competition

The UK Predators returned to American tournament competition in June 2023, participating in the World Classic Paintball League (WCPL) New York Classic.

The team finished second in the Open 10-man division. [8]

In 2024, the Predators competed in the European Classic Paintball League (ECPL), participating in the Skirmish Shield, Grand Central Classic, Warped Classic Cup and British ICPL.

The team finished fifth in the 2024 ECPL professional ten-player season standings with 352 points. [9]

Notable players

Documented members of the UK Predators include:

Marcus Davis – Founder and longstanding captain.
Anthony "Shiney" Elvins – Early member involved in the team's formation.
D "Jabba" Batters – Early player documented during the 1989 period.
Sean "Monkey" Arnold – Member of the original and revived teams.
David "Lumpy" Guile – Member of the revived team.
Stephen "Beally" Whyteleaf – Member of the original and revived teams.
Bart Farmer – Member of the revived team.
Mark "Twizz" Dale – Member of the revived team.

[1][2]

Selected tournament achievements

Year	Competition	Division	Result
1990	Mayhem Masters	Main tournament	Champions [2][3]
1991	Line SI International Masters, Nashville	Open 5-man	Champions [3]
1992	World Cup, New York	Professional 10-man	2nd place [4]
1993	World Cup, New York	Professional 10-man	2nd place [3]
1995	International Tournament of Toulouse	Semi-automatic 7-man	Champions [6]
1996	NPPL World Cup, Orlando	Professional 10-man	5th place [7]
2023	WCPL New York Classic	Open 10-man	2nd place [8]
2024	European Classic Paintball League	Professional 10-man	5th overall [9]

Equipment and sponsorship

The Predators were associated with several important paintball equipment manufacturers during the development of European tournament paintball.

During the early 1990s, the team used Sterling pump-action markers, including during its victory at the 1991 Line SI International Masters. [3]

The organisation subsequently developed a relationship with Worr Game Products (WGP) and British manufacturer Belsales.

By April 1995, the Predators had adopted the Autococker, and contemporary tournament coverage documented their successful transition to semi-automatic equipment. [6]

The team became associated with the Belsales Predator Autococker, a customised version of the marker produced in the team's distinctive green finish. [10]

The Predator name later returned to paintball equipment through the Inception Designs Retro Predator Autococker, a modern mechanical marker inspired by the original team's equipment and history. [1]

Legacy

The UK Predators were among the most successful British paintball teams of the early 1990s.

Their 1991 International Masters victory and consecutive World Cup runner-up finishes represented important achievements for European teams competing against established American professional organisations. [3][4]

The Predators also contributed to the development of European tournament competition through their success at major events and involvement with paintball equipment manufacturers.

The revival of the team for classic-format competition has preserved its name and competitive identity beyond its original championship period. [1][9]

References

External links