Editing 2008 Western Springs Open

The '''2008 Western Springs Open''' was a five-player [[paintball]] tournament held on 25–26 October 2008 at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. The playing field occupied the rugby ground inside the stadium's speedway track. Nine teams competed. [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]] won the tournament, defeating Blast 2–1 in the final.[1][2][3]

== Organisation ==

The tournament was advertised as an open competition using National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) rules and field paint only. Field walking was available from 13:00 on 24 October, before competition began the following day.[1]

The initial entry fee was NZ$600 per team, with a package including entry and ten cases of paintballs offered for NZ$1,500. Higher fees applied closer to the tournament. The announcement advertised compressed-air fills to 4,500 psi and prizes for the first three teams and the highest-placed amateur team.[1]

A small trade exhibition was proposed, with equipment importers invited to attend. The announcement acknowledged Redz and SCK Paintball.[1]

== Teams ==

An organiser's preliminary list recorded expressions of interest from Legion, STK, Flashpoint, Murder Inc, Blast, Assassins, Kidz of Hate, [[Wellington Hybrid|Hybrid]], Kila Muppetz, Legacy and Syndicate. This was not a confirmed entry list.[1]

The published preliminary results recorded nine competing teams. Murder Inc was listed as DNS (did not start).[3]

== Results ==

The organiser reported that fourteen preliminary rounds were completed on Saturday, followed by four further rounds on Sunday morning in wet and blustery conditions. The leading four teams remained unchanged and advanced to the semi-finals.[3]

=== Preliminary standings ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Position !! Team !! Points
|-
| 1 || Blast || 1,500
|-
| 2 || [[Legion (New Zealand Paintball Team)|Legion]] || 1,422
|-
| 3 || [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]] || 1,128
|-
| 4 || Kila Muppetz || 950
|-
| 5 || Kidz of Hate || 906
|-
| 6 || Assassinz || 848
|-
| 7 || Syndicate || 824
|-
| 8 || STK || 682
|-
| 9 || Legacy || 634
|}

These positions and points are the preliminary standings, rather than the final tournament placings.[3]

=== Finals ===

{| class="wikitable"
! Stage !! Winning team !! Score !! Losing team
|-
| Semi-final || Blast || 2–0 || Kila Muppetz
|-
| Semi-final || [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]] || 2–1 || [[Legion (New Zealand Paintball Team)|Legion]]
|-
| Third-place play-off || [[Legion (New Zealand Paintball Team)|Legion]] || 2–0 || Kila Muppetz
|-
| Final || [[Flashpoint (New Zealand)|Flashpoint]] || 2–1 || Blast
|}

Flashpoint finished first, Blast second, Legion third and Kila Muppetz fourth.[3]

== See also ==

* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[NZ Paintball Message Boards]]

== References ==

# [https://web.archive.org/web/20090821173239/http://nzpaintball.yuku.com/topic/3781/t/Springs-open-Labour-weekend-08.html “Springs open Labour weekend 08”]. NZ Paintball Message Boards, announcement posted 7 July 2008 and subsequently updated, with replies confirming the venue and dates. Archived 21 August 2009.
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20090330213124/http://nzpaintball.yuku.com/topic/4159/t/2009-Queen-39-s-Birthday-Tournament-Palmerston-North.html “2009 Queen's Birthday Tournament – Palmerston North”]. NZ Paintball Message Boards, post by nzteza dated 10 November 2008 reporting nine teams at the preceding Labour Weekend tournament. Archived 30 March 2009.
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20130218084839/http://paintball.net.nz/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=2012&view=print “Springs Open”]. NZ P8NT forums, topic 2012. Organiser's report by Big SY, 27 October 2008, recording preliminary scores, semi-finals, the third-place play-off and the final. Archived 18 February 2013.

[[Category:Paintball tournaments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Paintball in Auckland]]