Editing 1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals

The '''1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals''' was a five-player paintball tournament held on 25–26 October 1997 at [[Actions Paintball|Actions Paintball Sports Arena]] in Te Atatū, Auckland. Eleven teams competed across two divisions. [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo One]] won the tournament with 1,008 points, while [[Kamo Karzi]] won Division Two and finished third overall.[1]

== Organisation and format ==
Organised by Dave Pellet, the tournament was moved from a planned venue in Māngere to Actions Paintball several weeks before play began.[1]

Matches used a centre flag, five players per side and a ten-minute time limit. Teams played each other once, with both divisions sharing the draw. Total points determined overall and divisional placings. Two fields were used: a bush field with light scrub and large trees, and an artificial-barricade field built over a former go-kart track.[1]

Twelve teams were originally included in the draw, but Team Gothique did not attend. Each scheduled opponent received a bye worth the maximum game score of 100 points.[1]

== Tournament ==
Katipo One led after the opening day with 598 points from a possible 600, followed by Paint Contractors on 575. Kamo Karzi defeated both [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Black and Saints Grey]], while [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]] led Division Two.[1]

Flashpoint's divisional classification was disputed after it was reported as a Division One entry on Saturday evening. Officials confirmed its Division Two status on Sunday and upheld that decision following protests.[1]

Katipo One retained the overall lead, finishing ahead of Saints Black. Kamo Karzi won Division Two after defeating Paint Contractors in its final game; it also drew 58–58 with Flashpoint. Team Raven finished second in Division Two, followed by Katipo Two.[1]

== Results ==
The final overall and divisional standings were:[1]

{| class="wikitable"
! Overall position
! Team
! Division
! Divisional position
! Points
|-
| 1
| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo One]]
| One
| 1
| 1,008
|-
| 2
| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Black]]
| One
| 2
| 866
|-
| 3
| [[Kamo Karzi]]
| Two
| 1
| 818
|-
| 4
| Paint Contractors
| One
| 3
| 791
|-
| 5
| [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints Grey]]
| One
| 4
| 780
|-
| 6
| Team Raven
| Two
| 2
| 642
|-
| 7
| [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo Two]]
| Two
| 3
| 608
|-
| 8
| [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]]
| Two
| 4
| 602
|-
| 9
| [[Syrian Suicide Squad]]
| Two
| 5
| 422
|-
| 10
| Red Alert
| Two
| 6
| 370
|-
| 11
| Bay Boyz
| Two
| 7
| 210
|}

== See also ==
* [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]

== References ==
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20010114121800/http://www.paintball.co.nz/nats97.htm Rob Maddox, ''The 1997 Two Day NZ National “SplatMan” Tournament'']. Paintball.co.nz; archived 14 January 2001.

[[Category:Paintball tournaments in New Zealand]]