Black Reign (Australia): Difference between revisions
Created a sourced history of Queensland professional team Black Reign. Added its formation background, 1995 Sydney Skirmish Sevens championship, Australian Five-Man Open and South Pacific runner-up finishes, Rebel Tour professional title, national ranking, associated tournament squads, personnel, sponsorship and tournament-organising work. Flagged the internally inconsistent formation year printed in a contemporary letter. |
m Admin moved page Black Reign to Black Reign (Australia) without leaving a redirect: Multiple Black Reign |
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Revision as of 04:49, 24 October 2026
Black Reign was an Australian tournament paintball team from Queensland. Captained by Gavin “Big Gav” Costello, the team became one of Australia's leading professional teams during the mid-1990s.
Black Reign won the inaugural Sydney Skirmish Sevens in 1995, finished second at both the Australian Five-Man Open and the South Pacific Championships, and won the professional division of the 1995 Rebel Tour.[1][2][3] It was ranked third among Australian professional teams for the 1995 season.[4]
History
Formation
A letter from captain Gavin Costello published in Australian Paintballer described Black Reign as a young team formed by four players who had previously played with the Samford Vikings.[5]
Costello stated that Black Reign recruited predominantly inexperienced tournament players, with more than 80 per cent of the original lineup having no previous tournament experience. He also asked that the team be treated as a new organisation rather than a continuation or renamed version of the Samford Vikings.[5]
The letter printed the formation year as 1995, but this conflicts with Black Reign's documented participation and tournament victory in April 1995. The precise founding date should therefore be treated as unresolved.
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, behind Magnum. It placed fourth in the finals, behind champions SWAT, Magnum and the Top Hat Jokers.[7]
Sydney Skirmish Sevens
Black Reign won the inaugural Sydney Skirmish Sevens, held at the Ultimate Skirmish Game at Yarramundi on 1–2 April 1995.[1]
The team led the preliminary stage with 565 points, ahead of the Firm, Regulators, Delegates, Body Count, Badd Rapps and Darkside.[1]
In the four-team final, Black Reign defeated the Firm, Regulators and Delegates. Its final game against the Delegates produced a maximum score and secured the championship.[1]
The final standings were:
| Position | Team | Finals points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black Reign | 215 |
| 2 | Regulators | 180 |
| 3 | Delegates | 40 |
| 4 | The Firm | 15 |
The victory was Black Reign's first documented major interstate tournament championship.
Australian Five-Man Open
Black Reign competed at the Australian Five-Man Open at Mount White in 1995.
After fourteen preliminary games, the team was second with 818 points. It remained second after the final round, finishing behind the Top Hat Jokers and ahead of Rhythm Method and FIGJAM.[2]
The finals standings were:
| Position | Team | Finals points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Top Hat Jokers | 212 |
| 2 | Black Reign | 198 |
| 3 | Rhythm Method | 132 |
| 4 | FIGJAM | 24 |
South Pacific Championships
Black Reign entered two combinations at the 1995 South Pacific Championships, held at Adventure Quest Games in Windsor, New South Wales.
The main Black Reign squad finished second behind the Top Hat Jokers. SWAT placed third and the combined Black Reign/No Fear squad finished fourth.[3]
Other competing teams included Hardline, United Newcastle and the New Zealand Saints.[3]
Black Reign player Simon Street was photographed attempting a flag move during the tournament.[8]
Following the event, team members stated that Black Reign would referee the 1996 South Pacific Championships in Queensland.[8]
Rebel Tour
Black Reign won the professional division of the 1995 Rebel Tour, held at Skirmish Adventures, Helensburgh, on 2–3 December.[9]
The team entered two professional squads:
- Black Reign – Funky Bros
- Black Reign – No Fear
Funky Bros led the professional preliminary standings with 850 points. HEAT Tigerstripe followed with 685, the Top Hat Jokers with 645 and Black Reign–No Fear with 545.[9]
In the finals, Funky Bros defeated the Top Hat Jokers and then defeated HEAT Tigerstripe to secure first place. The tournament report described the team as taking the professional shield back to Queensland.[9]
Welf Herfurth played with Black Reign as a guest at the tournament. Captain Gavin Costello and Paintball Australia representative Tim McCarthy accepted the professional shield.[9]
1995 national ranking
A national ranking compiled by Australian Paintballer and Kez Svanberg placed Black Reign third among Australian professional teams for the 1995 season.[4]
| Position | Team | State | Ranking score | Tournaments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWAT | New South Wales | 446.25 | 10 |
| 2 | HEAT | New South Wales | 352.00 | 9 |
| 3 | Black Reign | Queensland | 346.50 | 6 |
| 4 | Top Hat Jokers | New South Wales | 330.30 | 8 |
Black Reign finished only 5.5 points behind HEAT despite contesting three fewer tournaments.[4]
Tournament organisation
Black Reign was involved in tournament organisation and refereeing as well as competition.
The team 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]
Black Reign was also allocated refereeing duties for a round of the Australasian Paintball Players League programme.[11]
Captain Gavin Costello wrote a tactical article titled “Winning 5-Man Tourneys” for Australian Paintballer. The article discussed teamwork, communication and tactical responsibilities within 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 1995 Rebel Tour listed Black Reign – Funky Bros and Black Reign – No Fear as separate tournament entries.[3][9]
These names document Black Reign fielding or participating in multiple combinations. They do not establish that No Fear permanently merged into Black Reign.
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; and
- Mick “Barney” Rae.
Welf Herfurth appeared as a guest player with Black Reign at the 1995 Rebel Tour.[9]
The surviving records do not provide a complete roster for every tournament.
Sponsorship
Contemporary material associated Black Reign with:
- Paintball Australia;
- RP Scherer;
- Skirmish Brisbane;
- Skirmish Samford;
- J&J Performance; and
- Avis Car Rentals.[5]
Costello appeared in advertising for J&J Performance barrels as the captain of Black Reign.[13]
Selected results
| Year | Tournament | Format or division | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | New South Wales State Championships | Open | 4th [7] |
| 1995 | Sydney Skirmish Sevens | Seven-player | Champions [1] |
| 1995 | Australian Five-Man Open | Five-player | 2nd [2] |
| 1995 | South Pacific Championships | Ten-player | 2nd [3] |
| 1995 | South Pacific Championships | Ten-player, Black Reign/No Fear | 4th [3] |
| 1995 | Rebel Tour | Professional seven-player | Champions [9] |
| 1995 | Australian annual team rankings | Professional | 3rd [4] |
See also
- Australian tournament paintball in 1995
- South Pacific Championships
- Australasian Paintball Players League
- Sydney SWAT
- Top Hat Jokers
- Paintball in Australia
References
- Rod Lewis, “Black Reign Weathers the Storm at the Sydney Skirmish Sevens”, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, pp. 50–53.
- Australian Five-Man Open tournament report, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, pp. 60–61.
- Gavin Costello, “South Pacific Extravaganza”, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, p. 23.
- Ross Davis, “1995 Australian Team Rankings”, Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, p. 29.
- Gavin Costello, “Black Reign on Top”, letter published in Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, p. 22. Describes the team's formation, intended separation from the Samford Vikings and sponsors. The printed formation year conflicts with the team's documented April 1995 results.
- Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, news report concerning Gavin Costello and Paintball Australia, p. 9.
- “SWAT Take Out NSW State Championships”, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, p. 10.
- Letters and photographs concerning the 1995 South Pacific Championships, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, pp. 4–6.
- Rod Lewis and Gavin Costello, “Rebel Keeps on Yellin'”, Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, p. 25.
- Queensland amateur five-player tournament-series report, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, pp. 28–29.
- Australasian Paintball Players League tournament programme, Australian Paintballer, April–June 1996, p. 26.
- Gavin Costello, “Winning 5-Man Tourneys”, Australian Paintballer, December 1995–February 1996, p. 29.
- J&J Performance advertisement featuring Gavin Costello as captain of Black Reign, Australian Paintballer, June–July 1995, p. 35.