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Expanded and reorganised the Saints article using contemporary tournament reports. Added the team’s 1995 New Zealand South Pacific Championship victory, Australian appearance, Auckland seven-player title and documented early captaincy; consolidated later rankings, squad history and international results.
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{{Short description|New Zealand tournament paintball team}}
'''Saints''', also known as '''Team Saints''', was a New Zealand tournament [[paintball]] organisation active from at least 1995 into the 2000s. The team won the 1995 [[South Pacific Championships]] in Wellington and a seven-player tournament in Auckland later that year.[1][2]


'''Saints''', also known as '''Team Saints''', was a New Zealand tournament [[paintball]] organisation active from at least 1995 into the 2000s. The team won the 1995 [[South Pacific Championships]] in Wellington and the 1995 Auckland seven-player tournament.[1][2]
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the organisation fielded several squads, including '''Saints Gold''', '''Saints Black''' and '''Saints Grey'''. Saints Gold led the independent [[Valhalla National Rankings]] in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and headed the published seven-player rankings in 2001.[5][6][7][8]


During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the organisation entered squads including '''Saints Gold''' and '''Saints Black'''. A veteran squad recorded as '''Grey''' or '''Saints Grey''' was also associated with the team. Saints Gold led the independent [[Valhalla National Rankings]] in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and headed the published seven-player rankings for 2001.[5][6][7][8]
Saints also competed internationally, travelling to Australia in 1995 and the United States for the 2004 [[National Professional Paintball League]] (NPPL) tournament at Huntington Beach, California.[3][12]
 
Saints also competed internationally, travelling to Australia in 1995 and to the United States for the 2004 [[National Professional Paintball League]] tournament at Huntington Beach.[3][10]


== History ==
== History ==
Line 11: Line 9:
=== 1995 season ===
=== 1995 season ===


==== New Zealand South Pacific Championship ====
==== South Pacific Championships ====


Saints won the 1995 New Zealand [[South Pacific Championships]], held in Wellington over the Easter weekend. The Australian team Sydney HEAT finished second.[1]
Saints won the 1995 New Zealand [[South Pacific Championships]], held in Wellington over the Easter weekend.


The result demonstrates that Saints had already become one of New Zealand's leading tournament teams by early 1995. It also gave Sydney HEAT its first tournament appearance outside Australia.[1]
The Australian team [[Sydney HEAT]] finished second.[1]


==== Australian South Pacific Championships ====
==== Australian South Pacific Championships ====


Later in 1995, Saints travelled to New South Wales to contest the Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships at Adventure Quest Games near Windsor. Seven ten-player teams competed: Saints, [[Top Hat Jokers]], [[Sydney SWAT]], Black Reign, Black Reign/No Fear, Hardline and United Newcastle.[3]
Later in 1995, Saints travelled to New South Wales to compete in the Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships at Adventure Quest Games near Windsor.
 
Seven ten-player teams entered the competition: [[Saints (New Zealand paintball team)|Saints]], [[Top Hat Jokers]], [[Sydney SWAT]], [[Black Reign]], Black Reign/No Fear, Hardline and United Newcastle.[3]
 
Saints did not advance to the four-team finals.


Saints played strongly but did not advance to the four-team finals. Top Hat Jokers won the tournament, followed by Black Reign, SWAT and Black Reign/No Fear.[3]
Top Hat Jokers won the tournament, followed by Black Reign, Sydney SWAT and Black Reign/No Fear.[3]


In ''Australian Paintballer'''s retrospective rankings for the 1995 Australian season, Saints received 56.25 professional ranking points from its single tournament appearance.[4]
In the 1995 Australian team rankings published by ''Australian Paintballer'', Saints received 56.25 professional ranking points from its single Australian tournament appearance.[4]


The Australian competition was separate from the New Zealand South Pacific Championships won by Saints earlier in the year.
==== Auckland seven-player tournament ====


==== Auckland tournament ====
Saints won a seven-player tournament held at Tactics, Bethells Beach, Auckland, on 21–22 October 1995.


Saints won a seven-player tournament held at Tactics, Bethells Beach, Auckland, on 21–22 October 1995. Six teams competed in a double round-robin format, playing each opponent once from each end of the field.[2]
Six teams competed in a double round-robin format.


Saints won nine of its ten games, recording five maximum scores and three scores of 98 points. The team finished with 910 points, ahead of X-Men on 683 and Katapo on 628.[2]
Saints won nine of its ten games and finished with 910 points, ahead of [[X-Men (New Zealand paintball team)|X-Men]] and [[Katipo Paintball Team|Katipo]].[2]


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 47: Line 49:
|-
|-
| 3
| 3
| Katapo
| Katipo
| 628
| 628
|-
|-
Line 63: Line 65:
|}
|}


A contemporary report identified Rick as the Saints captain at the tournament.[2]
The contemporary tournament report identified [[Rik Goldsworthy]], referred to as Rick, as the Saints captain.[2]
 
=== 1997 season ===


=== Later 1990s ===
The April–June 1997 issue of ''Paintballer'' featured Saints on its cover under the headline "Warriors Still!", describing the team's efforts to regain its previous competitive standing.[11]


The April–June 1997 issue of the Australasian magazine ''Paintballer'' featured Saints on its cover under the headline "Warriors Still!", describing the team as seeking to regain its feared status.[11]
Saints Black finished second in the 1997 Valhalla National Rankings with 79 points, behind Katipo.


The team subsequently appeared in the independent Valhalla rankings through several separately recorded squads.
At the 1997 [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]], Saints Black also finished second behind Katipo, recording 866 tournament points.[9]


Saints Black finished second in the 1997 rankings with 79 points, behind Katipo. At the 1997 [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]], Saints Black also placed second behind Katipo, scoring 866 tournament points.[9]
=== 1998 season ===


Saints Gold led the 1998 Valhalla rankings with 92.5 points. Grey placed second and Saints Black fifth, giving the wider Saints organisation three entries among the leading five teams.[5]
Saints Gold led the 1998 Valhalla National Rankings with 92.5 points.


At the 1998 New Zealand Nationals, Saints Gold won the tournament with 1,290 points. Paint Contractors finished second with 1,008, while the team recorded in the tournament results as Saints Grey placed third with 970.[5]
Saints Grey finished second with 78 points, while Saints Black placed fifth with 64 points.[5]


Saints Gold remained first in the 1999 Valhalla rankings with 91 points. Grey placed fourth with 77.[6]
At the 1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals, Saints Gold won the tournament with 1,290 points.
 
Paint Contractors finished second with 1,008 points, while Saints Grey placed third with 970.[5]
 
=== 1999 season ===
 
Saints Gold retained first place in the Valhalla National Rankings in 1999, recording 91 points.
 
Saints Grey finished fourth with 77 points.[6]


=== 2000 season ===
=== 2000 season ===


Saints Gold led the Valhalla rankings for a third consecutive season in 2000, recording 91 points. The ranking compiler noted that the squad had averaged approximately 96 per cent of the available points during the preliminary stages of its tournaments.[7]
Saints Gold led the Valhalla rankings for a third consecutive season in 2000, recording 91 points.


Grey finished equal second with Team Crisis on 82.5 points. Saints Black was also recorded in the standings, placing twenty-third with 50 points.[7]
The ranking compiler reported that the squad had averaged approximately 96 per cent of the available preliminary-round points during its tournament appearances.[7]
 
Saints Grey finished equal second with Team Crisis on 82.5 points.
 
Saints Black was also recorded in the standings, placing twenty-third with 50 points.[7]


=== 2001 season ===
=== 2001 season ===


Valhalla published separate seven-, five- and three-player rankings in 2001. Saints Gold appeared in all three formats.[8]
The Valhalla rankings for 2001 recorded Saints Gold in seven-player, five-player and three-player competition.[8]
 
In the seven-player rankings, Saints Gold finished first among 23 entries with 400.5 cumulative points.


In the seven-player rankings, Saints Gold placed first among 23 entries with 400.5 cumulative points. Its results incorporated the Northland Open, RotoVegas and New Zealand Nationals.[8]
The results incorporated the Northland Open, RotoVegas and New Zealand Nationals.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Saints Gold – 2001 seven-player ranking contributions
! Competition stage
! Competition stage
! Points
! Points
Line 111: Line 128:
| 56.3
| 56.3
|-
|-
! Total
| '''Total'''
! 400.5
| '''400.5'''
|}
|}


Saints Gold placed second in the five-player rankings with 211 points, behind [[Tag n' Release]] on 214.5. These standings incorporated the South Pacific Championships and Wellington Cup.[8]
Saints Gold finished second in the five-player rankings with 211 points, behind [[Tag n' Release]] on 214.5 points.


The squad also placed fourth in the three-player rankings with 152.5 points. The three-player category incorporated the Hawkes Bay Triples, Indoor Three-Man Open and Combat Zone competitions.[8]
The squad also placed fourth in the three-player rankings with 152.5 points.[8]


=== 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach ===
=== 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach ===


Saints travelled to California to compete in the NPPL Super 7 Series tournament at Huntington Beach on 19–21 March 2004. The event attracted approximately 160 teams from twelve countries.[12]
Saints travelled to California to compete in the opening round of the 2004 NPPL Super 7 Series at Huntington Beach, held from 19 to 21 March.
 
The tournament attracted approximately 160 teams from twelve countries.[12]
 
Saints captain [[Rik Goldsworthy]] discussed the team's participation in an April 2004 interview conducted by Rob Maddox for Paintball.co.nz.
 
Goldsworthy reported that Saints won three of its eight games.[13]
 
He also expressed an intention to return to Huntington Beach the following year, although a subsequent appearance has not been established from the available records.


Saints player and captain Rik Goldsworthy subsequently discussed the tournament in an interview conducted by Rob Maddox for ''Paintball.co.nz''. Goldsworthy reported that Saints won three of its eight games.[13]
==== Photographic documentation ====


The interview documents the team's continued activity beyond the years covered by the surviving Valhalla rankings. Goldsworthy also expressed an intention for the team to return to Huntington Beach the following year, although the available source does not confirm that a further appearance took place.[13]
A contemporary photographic collection of Saints at Huntington Beach is preserved in a Flickr album titled ''Huntington Beach 2004''.[15]
 
The album contains 28 photographs and is described as documenting Saints at the opening round of the 2004 NPPL series.
 
The photographs were published through the account of [[Martin Dannefaerd]], who was involved in operating a New Zealand paintball website at the time.
 
Dannefaerd was not a member of Saints.
 
Historical participant identification associates [[Rik Goldsworthy]], [[Kane Anderson]], [[Pete Hamilton|Peter Hamilton]] and a player known as Stat with the team depicted in the photographs.
 
The jerseys do not display player names, so these identifications are based on participant recollections rather than uniform lettering.
 
The collection provides additional contemporary documentation of Saints' international tournament participation.


== Team structure ==
== Team structure ==
Line 131: Line 168:
=== Saints Gold ===
=== Saints Gold ===


'''Saints Gold''' was the organisation's principal competitive squad during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It led the Valhalla rankings for three consecutive seasons from 1998 to 2000 and led the published seven-player standings in 2001.[5][6][7][8]
Saints Gold was the organisation's principal competitive squad during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
 
The squad led the Valhalla rankings in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and finished first in the published seven-player standings in 2001.[5][6][7][8]


=== Saints Black ===
=== Saints Black ===


'''Saints Black''' competed as a separately ranked squad. It finished second in the 1997 Valhalla rankings and at the 1997 New Zealand Nationals. The squad placed fifth in the 1998 rankings and also appeared in the 2000 standings.[5][7][9]
Saints Black competed as a separately ranked squad.
 
The team finished second in the 1997 Valhalla rankings and at the 1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals.
 
It placed fifth in the 1998 national rankings and appeared again in the 2000 standings.[5][7][9]
 
=== Saints Grey ===
 
Saints Grey was another squad associated with the wider Saints organisation.
 
The team appeared as Grey in several Valhalla ranking tables, while the 1998 New Zealand Nationals results identified it as Saints Grey.[5]
 
The squad placed fifth in the 1997 rankings, second in 1998, fourth in 1999 and equal second in 2000.[5][6][7][9]
 
The Valhalla rankings treated separately named squads as individual competitive entries rather than combining their results under one organisation.[14]
 
== Notable players ==
 
=== Rik Goldsworthy ===
 
[[Rik Goldsworthy]], also recorded as Rick Goldsworthy, was a Saints player and captain.
 
A contemporary report from the October 1995 Auckland seven-player tournament identified him as captain under the name Rick.[2]
 
Goldsworthy continued to be associated with Saints during the 2000s and captained the team at the 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach tournament.[13]
 
=== Kane Anderson ===
 
[[Kane Anderson]] has been identified through historical participant recollections as a member of the Saints team photographed at the 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach tournament.[15]


=== Grey ===
His complete tournament record with Saints has not yet been established.


'''Grey''' was recorded separately in most Valhalla ranking tables. The 1998 New Zealand Nationals results identified the entry as '''Saints Grey''', supporting its association with the wider Saints organisation.[5]
=== Peter Hamilton ===


Grey placed fifth in the 1997 rankings, second in 1998, fourth in 1999 and equal second in 2000.[5][6][7][9]
[[Pete Hamilton|Peter Hamilton]] has been identified as a member of the Saints team appearing in the 2004 Huntington Beach photographic collection.[15]


Valhalla treated separately named squads as independent ranking entries rather than combining their results under a single organisation.[14]
Hamilton was subsequently associated with [[Wellington Hybrid]], appearing in photographs from the team's 2005 Australian X-Ball League campaign.
 
=== Stat ===
 
'''Stat''' was a Saints player identified by nickname in historical photographs of the 2004 Huntington Beach team.[15]
 
His full name has not yet been established.


== Selected tournament results ==
== Selected tournament results ==
Line 156: Line 229:
| [[South Pacific Championships]]
| [[South Pacific Championships]]
| Saints
| Saints
| First
| 1st
|-
|-
| 1995
| 1995
Line 166: Line 239:
| Auckland seven-player tournament
| Auckland seven-player tournament
| Saints
| Saints
| First
| 1st
|-
|-
| 1997
| 1997
| [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]
| [[New Zealand Paintball Nationals]]
| Saints Black
| Saints Black
| Second
| 2nd
|-
|-
| 1998
| 1998
| New Zealand Paintball Nationals
| New Zealand Paintball Nationals
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| First
| 1st
|-
|-
| 1998
| 1998
| New Zealand Paintball Nationals
| New Zealand Paintball Nationals
| Saints Grey
| Saints Grey
| Third
| 3rd
|-
|-
| 2004
| 2004
Line 201: Line 274:
| Saints Black
| Saints Black
| Combined
| Combined
| Second
| 2nd
| 79
| 79
|-
|-
Line 207: Line 280:
| Grey
| Grey
| Combined
| Combined
| Fifth
| 5th
| 71
| 71
|-
|-
Line 213: Line 286:
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| Combined
| Combined
| First
| 1st
| 92.5
| 92.5
|-
|-
Line 219: Line 292:
| Grey
| Grey
| Combined
| Combined
| Second
| 2nd
| 78
| 78
|-
|-
Line 225: Line 298:
| Saints Black
| Saints Black
| Combined
| Combined
| Fifth
| 5th
| 64
| 64
|-
|-
Line 231: Line 304:
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| Combined
| Combined
| First
| 1st
| 91
| 91
|-
|-
Line 237: Line 310:
| Grey
| Grey
| Combined
| Combined
| Fourth
| 4th
| 77
| 77
|-
|-
Line 243: Line 316:
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| Combined
| Combined
| First
| 1st
| 91
| 91
|-
|-
Line 249: Line 322:
| Grey
| Grey
| Combined
| Combined
| Equal second
| Equal 2nd
| 82.5
| 82.5
|-
|-
Line 255: Line 328:
| Saints Black
| Saints Black
| Combined
| Combined
| Twenty-third
| 23rd
| 50
| 50
|-
|-
Line 261: Line 334:
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| Seven-player
| Seven-player
| First
| 1st
| 400.5
| 400.5
|-
|-
Line 267: Line 340:
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| Five-player
| Five-player
| Second
| 2nd
| 211
| 211
|-
|-
Line 273: Line 346:
| Saints Gold
| Saints Gold
| Three-player
| Three-player
| Fourth
| 4th
| 152.5
| 152.5
|}
|}


The 2001 figures are cumulative tournament-round totals and are not directly comparable with the ranking scores used in previous seasons.[8]
The 2001 figures are cumulative tournament-round totals and are not directly comparable with the ranking scores used in previous seasons.[8]
== Notable players ==
* '''Rick''' – identified as the Saints captain at the 1995 Auckland tournament.[2]
* [[Rik Goldsworthy]] – Saints player and captain during the 2000s; represented the team at the 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach tournament.[13]
The available sources do not establish whether Rick from the 1995 team and Rik Goldsworthy were the same person.


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 293: Line 359:
* [[Northland Open]]
* [[Northland Open]]
* [[Katipo Paintball Team]]
* [[Katipo Paintball Team]]
* [[Kamo Karzi]]
* [[Tag n' Release]]
* [[Tag n' Release]]
* [[Valhalla National Rankings]]
* [[Valhalla National Rankings]]
* [[Rik Goldsworthy]]
* [[Rik Goldsworthy]]
* [[History of paintball in New Zealand]]
* [[Wellington Hybrid]]
* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]


== References ==
== References ==


# ''Australian Paintballer'', June–July 1995, "Sydney HEAT Make Friends in High Places".
# Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, "Sydney HEAT Make Friends in High Places".
# ''Australian Paintballer'', December 1995–February 1996, report on the Auckland seven-player tournament at Tactics, Bethells Beach.
# Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, report on the Auckland seven-player tournament at Tactics, Bethells Beach.
# ''Australian Paintballer'', December 1995–February 1996, "South Pacific Extravaganza".
# Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, "South Pacific Extravaganza".
# ''Australian Paintballer'', April–June 1996, "1995 Australian Team Rankings".
# Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, "1995 Australian Team Rankings".
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1998Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 1998]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1998, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1999Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 1999]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1999, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 2000]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 2000, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 2001]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 2001, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1997Hall.htm Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 1997]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1997, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
# ''Australian Paintballer'', December 1995–February 1996, report on the Saints' 1995 Australian tournament appearance.
# Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, report on the Saints' Australian tournament appearance.
# ''Paintballer'', issue 16, April–June 1997, cover feature, "Warriors Still! The Saints Determined to Regain Feared Status!".
# Paintballer, issue 16, April–June 1997, "Warriors Still! The Saints Determined to Regain Feared Status!".
# [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2004/hb/index.shtml WARPIG – NPPL Huntington Beach 2004].
# WARPIG, NPPL Huntington Beach 2004, contemporary tournament coverage.
# Rob Maddox, "Interview: Rik Goldsworthy", ''Paintball.co.nz'', April 2004. [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.paintball.co.nz/articles.htm Archived Paintball.co.nz articles].
# Rob Maddox, "Interview: Rik Goldsworthy", Paintball.co.nz, April 2004. Archived interview; direct URL requires recovery.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/RankIndex.htm Valhalla National Team Ranking Methodology]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# Valhalla National Team Ranking Methodology, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
# [https://www.flickr.com/photos/whatever/albums/86811/ Martin Dannefaerd, "Huntington Beach 2004", Flickr. Collection of 28 photographs documenting Saints at the opening round of the 2004 NPPL series.]


== External links ==
== External links ==


* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1997Hall.htm Saints in the 1997 national rankings]
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/whatever/albums/86811/ Saints at NPPL Huntington Beach 2004, photographic archive]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1998Hall.htm Saints in the 1998 national rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/ Mercenaries Star historical New Zealand paintball archive]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/1999Hall.htm Saints in the 1999 national rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2000Hall.htm Saints in the 2000 national rankings]
* [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/VALHALLA/2001Hall.htm Saints in the 2001 rankings]
* [https://www.warpig.com/paintball/tournament/nppl/2004/hb/index.shtml 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach coverage]


[[Category:New Zealand paintball teams]]
[[Category:New Zealand paintball teams]]
[[Category:New Zealand paintball history]]
[[Category:Paintball teams]]
[[Category:1990s in paintball]]
[[Category:Paintball in New Zealand]]
[[Category:2000s in paintball]]
[[Category:Historical paintball teams]]

Revision as of 09:18, 23 October 2026

Saints, also known as Team Saints, was a New Zealand tournament paintball organisation active from at least 1995 into the 2000s. The team won the 1995 South Pacific Championships in Wellington and a seven-player tournament in Auckland later that year.[1][2]

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the organisation fielded several squads, including Saints Gold, Saints Black and Saints Grey. Saints Gold led the independent Valhalla National Rankings in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and headed the published seven-player rankings in 2001.[5][6][7][8]

Saints also competed internationally, travelling to Australia in 1995 and the United States for the 2004 National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) tournament at Huntington Beach, California.[3][12]

History

1995 season

South Pacific Championships

Saints won the 1995 New Zealand South Pacific Championships, held in Wellington over the Easter weekend.

The Australian team Sydney HEAT finished second.[1]

Australian South Pacific Championships

Later in 1995, Saints travelled to New South Wales to compete in the Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships at Adventure Quest Games near Windsor.

Seven ten-player teams entered the competition: Saints, Top Hat Jokers, Sydney SWAT, Black Reign, Black Reign/No Fear, Hardline and United Newcastle.[3]

Saints did not advance to the four-team finals.

Top Hat Jokers won the tournament, followed by Black Reign, Sydney SWAT and Black Reign/No Fear.[3]

In the 1995 Australian team rankings published by Australian Paintballer, Saints received 56.25 professional ranking points from its single Australian tournament appearance.[4]

Auckland seven-player tournament

Saints won a seven-player tournament held at Tactics, Bethells Beach, Auckland, on 21–22 October 1995.

Six teams competed in a double round-robin format.

Saints won nine of its ten games and finished with 910 points, ahead of X-Men and Katipo.[2]

Position Team Points
1 Saints 910
2 X-Men 683
3 Katipo 628
4 Whangarei Paint Contractors 324
5 Dragons Claw Hell Patrol 293
6 Dragons Claw Sentinels −35

The contemporary tournament report identified Rik Goldsworthy, referred to as Rick, as the Saints captain.[2]

1997 season

The April–June 1997 issue of Paintballer featured Saints on its cover under the headline "Warriors Still!", describing the team's efforts to regain its previous competitive standing.[11]

Saints Black finished second in the 1997 Valhalla National Rankings with 79 points, behind Katipo.

At the 1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals, Saints Black also finished second behind Katipo, recording 866 tournament points.[9]

1998 season

Saints Gold led the 1998 Valhalla National Rankings with 92.5 points.

Saints Grey finished second with 78 points, while Saints Black placed fifth with 64 points.[5]

At the 1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals, Saints Gold won the tournament with 1,290 points.

Paint Contractors finished second with 1,008 points, while Saints Grey placed third with 970.[5]

1999 season

Saints Gold retained first place in the Valhalla National Rankings in 1999, recording 91 points.

Saints Grey finished fourth with 77 points.[6]

2000 season

Saints Gold led the Valhalla rankings for a third consecutive season in 2000, recording 91 points.

The ranking compiler reported that the squad had averaged approximately 96 per cent of the available preliminary-round points during its tournament appearances.[7]

Saints Grey finished equal second with Team Crisis on 82.5 points.

Saints Black was also recorded in the standings, placing twenty-third with 50 points.[7]

2001 season

The Valhalla rankings for 2001 recorded Saints Gold in seven-player, five-player and three-player competition.[8]

In the seven-player rankings, Saints Gold finished first among 23 entries with 400.5 cumulative points.

The results incorporated the Northland Open, RotoVegas and New Zealand Nationals.

Competition stage Points
Northland Open 100
RotoVegas preliminary round 83.4
RotoVegas First Division round 73.3
Nationals preliminary round 87.5
Nationals First Division final 56.3
Total 400.5

Saints Gold finished second in the five-player rankings with 211 points, behind Tag n' Release on 214.5 points.

The squad also placed fourth in the three-player rankings with 152.5 points.[8]

2004 NPPL Huntington Beach

Saints travelled to California to compete in the opening round of the 2004 NPPL Super 7 Series at Huntington Beach, held from 19 to 21 March.

The tournament attracted approximately 160 teams from twelve countries.[12]

Saints captain Rik Goldsworthy discussed the team's participation in an April 2004 interview conducted by Rob Maddox for Paintball.co.nz.

Goldsworthy reported that Saints won three of its eight games.[13]

He also expressed an intention to return to Huntington Beach the following year, although a subsequent appearance has not been established from the available records.

Photographic documentation

A contemporary photographic collection of Saints at Huntington Beach is preserved in a Flickr album titled Huntington Beach 2004.[15]

The album contains 28 photographs and is described as documenting Saints at the opening round of the 2004 NPPL series.

The photographs were published through the account of Martin Dannefaerd, who was involved in operating a New Zealand paintball website at the time.

Dannefaerd was not a member of Saints.

Historical participant identification associates Rik Goldsworthy, Kane Anderson, Peter Hamilton and a player known as Stat with the team depicted in the photographs.

The jerseys do not display player names, so these identifications are based on participant recollections rather than uniform lettering.

The collection provides additional contemporary documentation of Saints' international tournament participation.

Team structure

Saints Gold

Saints Gold was the organisation's principal competitive squad during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The squad led the Valhalla rankings in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and finished first in the published seven-player standings in 2001.[5][6][7][8]

Saints Black

Saints Black competed as a separately ranked squad.

The team finished second in the 1997 Valhalla rankings and at the 1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals.

It placed fifth in the 1998 national rankings and appeared again in the 2000 standings.[5][7][9]

Saints Grey

Saints Grey was another squad associated with the wider Saints organisation.

The team appeared as Grey in several Valhalla ranking tables, while the 1998 New Zealand Nationals results identified it as Saints Grey.[5]

The squad placed fifth in the 1997 rankings, second in 1998, fourth in 1999 and equal second in 2000.[5][6][7][9]

The Valhalla rankings treated separately named squads as individual competitive entries rather than combining their results under one organisation.[14]

Notable players

Rik Goldsworthy

Rik Goldsworthy, also recorded as Rick Goldsworthy, was a Saints player and captain.

A contemporary report from the October 1995 Auckland seven-player tournament identified him as captain under the name Rick.[2]

Goldsworthy continued to be associated with Saints during the 2000s and captained the team at the 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach tournament.[13]

Kane Anderson

Kane Anderson has been identified through historical participant recollections as a member of the Saints team photographed at the 2004 NPPL Huntington Beach tournament.[15]

His complete tournament record with Saints has not yet been established.

Peter Hamilton

Peter Hamilton has been identified as a member of the Saints team appearing in the 2004 Huntington Beach photographic collection.[15]

Hamilton was subsequently associated with Wellington Hybrid, appearing in photographs from the team's 2005 Australian X-Ball League campaign.

Stat

Stat was a Saints player identified by nickname in historical photographs of the 2004 Huntington Beach team.[15]

His full name has not yet been established.

Selected tournament results

Year Tournament Squad Result
1995 South Pacific Championships Saints 1st
1995 Australian South Pacific Paintball Championships Saints Did not reach finals
1995 Auckland seven-player tournament Saints 1st
1997 New Zealand Paintball Nationals Saints Black 2nd
1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals Saints Gold 1st
1998 New Zealand Paintball Nationals Saints Grey 3rd
2004 NPPL Huntington Beach Saints Three wins from eight games

National ranking record

Year Squad Format Position Score
1997 Saints Black Combined 2nd 79
1997 Grey Combined 5th 71
1998 Saints Gold Combined 1st 92.5
1998 Grey Combined 2nd 78
1998 Saints Black Combined 5th 64
1999 Saints Gold Combined 1st 91
1999 Grey Combined 4th 77
2000 Saints Gold Combined 1st 91
2000 Grey Combined Equal 2nd 82.5
2000 Saints Black Combined 23rd 50
2001 Saints Gold Seven-player 1st 400.5
2001 Saints Gold Five-player 2nd 211
2001 Saints Gold Three-player 4th 152.5

The 2001 figures are cumulative tournament-round totals and are not directly comparable with the ranking scores used in previous seasons.[8]

See also

References

  1. Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, "Sydney HEAT Make Friends in High Places".
  2. Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, report on the Auckland seven-player tournament at Tactics, Bethells Beach.
  3. Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, "South Pacific Extravaganza".
  4. Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, "1995 Australian Team Rankings".
  5. Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1998, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
  6. Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1999, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
  7. Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 2000, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
  8. Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 2001, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
  9. Valhalla Hall of Heroes, 1997, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
  10. Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, report on the Saints' Australian tournament appearance.
  11. Paintballer, issue 16, April–June 1997, "Warriors Still! The Saints Determined to Regain Feared Status!".
  12. WARPIG, NPPL Huntington Beach 2004, contemporary tournament coverage.
  13. Rob Maddox, "Interview: Rik Goldsworthy", Paintball.co.nz, April 2004. Archived interview; direct URL requires recovery.
  14. Valhalla National Team Ranking Methodology, Mercenaries Star historical archive.
  15. Martin Dannefaerd, "Huntington Beach 2004", Flickr. Collection of 28 photographs documenting Saints at the opening round of the 2004 NPPL series.
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