Central Premier Paintball Series
The Central Premier Paintball Series (CPPS) is a British tournament paintball league based near Penkridge, Staffordshire, England. Its documented history includes launch activity and trial events in 2008, followed by a six-round numbered series in 2009. Modern competition is organised into divisions, with individual round results and season championships.[1][2][3][4]
| Name | Central Premier Paintball Series |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CPPS |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Base | Penkridge, Staffordshire, England |
| Earliest documented activity | Website launch and early events in 2008 |
| Early organiser | Balls Out Promotions |
| Website | okpb.co.uk |
History
Launch and early events, 2008
The CPPS website was announced on 7 October 2008. In the following day's discussion, its developer explained that play had not yet taken place at the site and that temporary photographs would be replaced after the opening events. These records document launch preparations rather than an exact organisational founding date.[1]
Balls Out Promotions held a trial tournament on 2 November 2008. Rich Harris's same-day report confirmed X Ball and five-man play and requested feedback to help prepare the following year's series.[2]
A Funball event on 7 December followed. Harris published a six-team classification headed by MK Storm, Lincoln Hurricanes and Phoenix 5.[5]
Numbered series, 2009
In December 2008, Harris announced a six-round programme for 2009, alongside separate pre-season and cup events. The advertised formats included M7 X Ball, M5 five-man and limited-paint three-man.[3]
The 2009 CPPS league season ran from 8 March to 18 October. The organiser's final tables named Disruption as M7 Premier League champions and Evil Saints as M5 Premier League champions.[6][7]
The formats and classifications varied between events. At the opening round, the three-man competition was postponed and its players filled a vacant X Ball place. The round's M5 rankings were determined by eight preliminary games, with subsequent informal playoffs excluded from those standings.[6]
Subsequent competition
Contemporary records confirm continuing domestic competition in 2010 and 2011. A November 2010 Manchester Firm announcement identified Disruption as that year's X Ball champions, with Firm second, and reported a first-place season finish for Firm's five-man team. The published 2011 tables again named Disruption as Elite champions.[8][9]
The divisional structure has changed over time. Historical records use M5, M7, Premier, Championship and Conference labels, while later seasons use numbered divisions and introductory categories. The relevant season's records establish the applicable format and standings.[7][9][4]
Competition structure
CPPS organises annual championships across multiple rounds. The official 2026 calendar lists five numbered rounds and six divisions: Elite, Division 2, Division 3, Division 4, Division 5 and Breakout.[4]
A single numbered round can include division-specific playing dates spread across several weekends. For example, the 2026 opening round scheduled its divisions between 7 March and 5 April.[4]
The league publishes event results and season standings. Detailed calendars, divisional results and source limitations are covered in the individual annual and round articles.[4]
Venue and international events
The CPPS venue is near Penkridge. NXL's official 2023 season preview described five grass tournament fields and one fully turfed field, and identified CPPS as the venue for its European event on 7–9 July.[10]
The venue also hosted the NXL Europe British Invitational on 2–5 July 2026, with the event address given as Rodbaston Drive, Penkridge. These international events belong to the NXL Europe circuit and are separate from the domestic CPPS championship.[11]
Annual articles
The 2008 article covers documented launch activity and early events rather than an established numbered league season. Later articles cover the available season calendars and results.
| Year | Article |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2008 CPPS |
| 2009 | 2009 CPPS |
| 2010 | 2010 CPPS |
| 2011 | 2011 CPPS |
| 2012 | 2012 CPPS |
| 2013 | 2013 CPPS |
| 2014 | 2014 CPPS |
| 2015 | 2015 CPPS |
| 2016 | 2016 CPPS |
| 2017 | 2017 CPPS |
| 2018 | 2018 CPPS |
| 2019 | 2019 CPPS |
| 2020 | 2020 CPPS |
| 2021 | 2021 CPPS |
| 2022 | 2022 CPPS |
| 2023 | 2023 CPPS |
| 2024 | 2024 CPPS |
| 2025 | 2025 CPPS |
| 2026 | 2026 CPPS |
See also
- Paintball in the United Kingdom
- UK Paintball Sports Federation
- NXL Europe
- Millennium Series
- X-Ball
- Speedball
References
- scoobytgi, “CPPS Website Launches”, P8ntballer, 7–8 October 2008.
- Rich Harris, “CPPS trial event feed back.”, P8ntballer, 2 November 2008.
- Rich Harris, “The CPPS season 09 dates”, P8ntballer, 12 December 2008.
- CPPS official event calendar, including 2026 numbered rounds and division-specific dates.
- Rich Harris, December event report and results, P8ntballer, 7 December 2008.
- Rich Harris and participants, “The CPPS rd 1, 8th March.”, P8ntballer, February–March 2009 — announcement, event report, results and M5 ranking clarification.
- Rich Harris, “The CPPS League tables 2009”, P8ntballer, 24 October 2009; final-round announcement, 25 September 2009.
- “Manchester Firm Open Day”, Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 3 November 2010.
- “CPPS Season Results”, Planet Eclipse HQ Blog, 14 October 2011.
- “The NXL Europe Season Preview: New Growth through the Major League of Paintball”, National Xball League, 7 April 2023.
- “2026 NXL Europe British Invitational”, National Xball League — dates and Penkridge address.