Black Reign (Australia)

Black Reign was an Australian tournament paintball team from Queensland, captained by Gavin “Big Gav” Costello. The team won the inaugural Sydney Skirmish Sevens and the professional division of the 1995 Rebel Tour, and ranked third among Australian professional teams for the 1995 season.[1][4][9]

Black Reign also finished second at the 1995 Australian Five-Man Open, the 1995 Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships and the professional division of the 1998 Australian Seven-Player Paintball Championships.[2][3][16]

History

Formation

A letter from captain Gavin Costello published in Australian Paintballer described Black Reign as a young team formed by four former Samford Vikings players.[5]

Costello stated that more than 80 per cent of the original lineup had no previous tournament experience. He asked that Black Reign be treated as a new organisation rather than a renamed continuation of the Samford Vikings.[5]

The letter gives a formation date of late July 1995, which conflicts with the team’s documented February and April 1995 competition appearances. The precise founding date therefore remains unresolved.[5][7][1]

Costello had played paintball since 1988 and was identified in contemporary reporting as an experienced player involved in several aspects of the sport.[6]

1995 New South Wales State Championships

Black Reign competed at the New South Wales State Championships at Skirmish Adventures, Gunning, on 12 February 1995. The team finished second in the preliminary standings with 514 points and fourth in the finals.[7]

Sydney Skirmish Sevens

Black Reign won the inaugural Sydney Skirmish Sevens at Ultimate Skirmish Game, Yarramundi, on 1–2 April 1995.[1]

The team led the preliminary stage with 565 points. In the four-team final, it defeated The Firm, Regulators and The Delegates, finishing with 215 points. A maximum score against The Delegates in its concluding game secured the championship.[1]

Australian Five-Man Open

Black Reign finished second at the 1995 Australian Five-Man Open at Mount White. After fourteen preliminary games, the team was second with 818 points. It retained second place after the finals, scoring 198 points.[2]

1995 Australian Masters

Black Reign reached the four-team final at the 1995 Australian Masters at Skirmish Adventures, Helensburgh.[14]

The contemporary online report contains conflicting accounts of its final placing. The introductory narrative places Black Reign third and Hardline fourth, while the final results table reverses that order.[14]

1995 South Pacific championship

Black Reign entered two combinations at the 1995 Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships, held at Adventure Quest Games near Windsor, New South Wales.[3]

The main Black Reign squad finished second, while the combined Black Reign/No Fear squad finished fourth.[3] The contemporary online report also records both squads reaching the finals.[18]

Black Reign player Simon Street was photographed attempting a flag move during the tournament. Following the event, team members stated that Black Reign would referee the 1996 South Pacific Championships in Queensland.[8]

1995 Rebel Tour

Black Reign won the professional division of the 1995 Rebel Tour, held at Skirmish Adventures, Helensburgh, on 2–3 December.[9][17]

The team entered two professional squads:

• Black Reign Funky Bros
• Black Reign No Fear

Funky Bros led the professional preliminary standings with 850 points, while No Fear qualified for the finals with 545 points.[9][17]

In the finals, Funky Bros defeated Top Hat Jokers and HEAT Tigerstripe to secure the professional championship. Welf Herfurth played with Black Reign as a guest. Captain Gavin Costello and Paintball Australia representative Tim McCarthy accepted the winner’s shield.[9][17]

1995 national ranking

The national rankings compiled by Australian Paintballer and Kez Svanberg placed Black Reign third among Australian professional teams for the 1995 season. The team received 346.50 ranking points from six tournaments.[4]

Black Reign finished 5.5 points behind second-placed HEAT despite contesting three fewer tournaments.[4]

1996 Australian Masters

Black Reign reached the professional finals at the 1996 Australian Masters at Skirmish Adventures, Helensburgh. The APPL-sanctioned event attracted 14 teams from Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The report identifies Black Reign as a finalist but does not establish its final placing.[15]

1998 Australian Seven-Player Championships

Black Reign finished second in the professional division of the 1998 Australian Seven-Player Paintball Championships at Yarramundi, New South Wales.[16]

The team qualified for the finals after finishing fourth in the preliminary round with 677 points. It defeated Vengeance in its opening finals game and finished the tournament with 215 finals points.[16]

A flag-handling infringement during Black Reign’s game against The Firm prevented it from receiving flag-hang points. The contemporary report identified the incident as decisive in the championship outcome.[16]

Tournament organisation

Black Reign supplied referees, rules and a handicap system for an amateur five-player tournament series in Queensland. Paintball Australia sponsored the series and Skirmish Brisbane supplied the venue.[10]

The team was also allocated refereeing duties for a round of the Australasian Paintball Players League programme.[11]

Captain Gavin Costello wrote “Winning 5-Man Tourneys” for Australian Paintballer, discussing teamwork, communication and tactical responsibilities in five-player competition.[12]

Team identity and associated squads

Black Reign was formed as a separate team rather than a renamed continuation of the Samford Vikings.[5]

The name Black Reign/No Fear appeared at the 1995 South Pacific Championships, while the Rebel Tour listed Black Reign Funky Bros and Black Reign No Fear as separate entries.[3][9]

These entries document multiple tournament combinations but do not establish a permanent merger between Black Reign and No Fear.

Documented personnel

Players and team members identified in contemporary sources include:

• Gavin “Big Gav” Costello — captain
• Simon Street
• Alex “Fernando” McLean
• Tim McCarthy
• Michelle “Slick” Vickery
• Mick “Barney” Rae

Welf Herfurth appeared as a guest player at the 1995 Rebel Tour.[9][17]

Sponsorship

Contemporary material associated Black Reign with:[5]

• Paintball Australia
• R. P. Scherer
• Skirmish Brisbane
• Skirmish Samford
• J&J Performance
• Avis Car Rentals

Costello appeared in advertising for J&J Performance barrels as Black Reign’s captain.[13]

Selected results

Year	Tournament	Entry or division	Result	Source
1995	New South Wales State Championships	Open	4th	[7]
1995	Sydney Skirmish Sevens	Seven-player	1st; 215 finals points	[1]
1995	Australian Five-Man Open	Five-player	2nd; 198 finals points	[2]
1995	Australian Masters	Black Reign	Finalist; minor placing disputed in source	[14]
1995	South Pacific Paintball Championships (Australia)	Ten-player, Black Reign	2nd	[3]
1995	South Pacific Paintball Championships (Australia)	Ten-player, Black Reign/No Fear	4th	[3]
1995	Rebel Tour	Professional seven-player, Funky Bros	1st	[9][17]
1996	Australian Masters	Professional	Finalist	[15]
1998	Australian Seven-Player Paintball Championships	Professional	2nd; 215 finals points	[16]

See also

• Australian tournament paintball in 1995
• South Pacific Paintball Championships (Australia)
• Australian Masters
• Australasian Paintball Players League
• Sydney SWAT
• Top Hat Jokers

References

1. Rod Lewis, “Black Reign Weathers the Storm at the Sydney Skirmish Sevens”, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, pp. 50–53.
2. Australian Five-Man Open tournament report, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, pp. 60–61.
3. Gavin Costello, “South Pacific Extravaganza”, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, p. 23.
4. Ross Davis, “1995 Australian Team Rankings”, Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, p. 29.
5. Gavin Costello, “Black Reign on Top”, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, p. 22. Letter describing the team’s formation, separation from the Samford Vikings and sponsors.
6. Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, news report concerning Gavin Costello and Paintball Australia, p. 9.
7. “SWAT Take Out NSW State Championships”, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, p. 10.
8. Letters and photographs concerning the 1995 South Pacific Championships, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, pp. 4–6.
9. Rod Lewis and Gavin Costello, “Rebel Keeps on Yellin’”, Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, p. 25.
10. Queensland amateur five-player tournament-series report, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, pp. 28–29.
11. Australasian Paintball Players League tournament programme, Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, p. 26.
12. Gavin Costello, “Winning 5-Man Tourneys”, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, p. 29.
13. J&J Performance advertisement featuring Gavin Costello, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, p. 35.
14. Australian Masters. Steve Hobden, War Paint, issue 1, January 1996.
15. Australian Masters. Kez Svanberg, War Paint, issue 4, November 1996.
16. 1998 Australian 7 Man. Simon Morrison, Paint, issue 9, September 1998.
17. Rebel Yell!. Rod Lewis and Gavin Costello, War Paint, issue 2, May 1996.
18. South Pacific’s. Gavin Costello, War Paint, issue 1, January 1996.