Editing Charles Gaines (section)

== First organised paintball game ==

=== Date and location ===

The first widely documented organised paintball game took place on 27 June 1981.

The venue was an approximately 80-acre wooded area near Henniker, New Hampshire.[1][2]

=== Organisation ===

Gaines, Noel and Gurnsey organised the event.

Mike Macklin assisted with field preparation and served as head judge.

Macklin arranged access to the land and helped establish the playing area.

=== Participants ===

Twelve people participated.

The group included businessmen, writers, hunters, a forester and other individuals with varied professional backgrounds.

=== Equipment ===

Each participant carried a Nel-Spot 007 marking pistol.

Players also used:

* Paintballs
* CO2 cartridges
* Protective goggles
* Camouflage clothing
* Maps
* Compasses

=== Rules ===

Four flag stations were established around the playing area.

Each participant attempted to collect one flag of each colour.

The winner would be the first player to return to the designated home base with the required flags without having been eliminated.

=== Start of the game ===

According to Gaines's 2024 account, the game began at approximately 10:00 a.m.

A shotgun blast signalled the start.[1]

=== Gaines's participation ===

Gaines participated as one of the twelve players.

He described engaging in exchanges of paintball fire with other competitors.

His later account included an encounter with Lionel Atwill, a former Green Beret.

=== Winner ===

The game was won by [[Ritchie White]], a New Hampshire forester.

White collected the required flags without firing his marker.

He reportedly completed the objective in slightly more than an hour.

=== Outcome of the debate ===

White's victory appeared to support Gaines's argument that practical experience and familiarity with wooded terrain could be more important than general competitive instinct.

The event also demonstrated the potential of paintball as a recreational activity.