1987 International Air Pistol Open
The 1987 International Air Pistol Open was a 15-player paintball tournament held on 18–19 July 1987 at National Survival Game–New York in Newburgh, New York, United States. Organised by field owner Jerry Braun, it attracted 32 teams from the United States and Canada and offered US$22,000 in guaranteed cash prizes.[1]
Navarone–Armageddon won the tournament, followed by Land Sharks II, the Texas Boonie Rats and Canada's Unknown Rebels.[1]
Organisation and venue
Entry was open regardless of a team's home-field affiliation or sponsorship. Braun guaranteed the cash prize fund irrespective of the number of entrants. Equipment dealers and manufacturers also exhibited products.[1]
Four woodland fields were reserved and modified for the competition. They combined natural cover with occasional plywood structures.[1]
Competition format
Teams fielded 15 players and could register five alternates. Games used a 45-minute capture-the-flag format.[1]
The 32 teams were divided into eight preliminary groups of four. Eight teams advanced to a second group stage, followed by a four-team final stage. Scores were reset between stages.[1]
Scoring
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Elimination of an opposing player | 2 per player, to a maximum of 30 |
| First capture of the opposing flag | 10 |
| Successful flag return | 60 |
| Maximum per game | 100 |
Source: the contemporary tournament report in Front Line.[1]
Equipment restrictions
Only .68-calibre paintball pistols were permitted. Rifles and constant-air systems were prohibited, barrels could not exceed 7.5 inches, and the velocity limit was 325 feet per second. Markers underwent inspection and chronograph testing before competition.[1]
Officiating
Seven non-playing referees were assigned to each game. They communicated eliminations by radio to a control desk, recording players by armband colour and number.[1]
Eliminated players had five minutes to leave the field and report to the desk. Failure to report within that period incurred a two-point team penalty.[1]
Tournament progression
The following teams advanced from the preliminary stage.[1]
| Second-stage group | Teams |
|---|---|
| I | Land Sharks II; Navarone–Apocalypse; HeadHunters; Boonie Rats |
| II | Combat Crew; Navarone–Armageddon; Wild Geese; Unknown Rebels |
Land Sharks II, Boonie Rats, Navarone–Armageddon and Unknown Rebels advanced to the final stage.[1]
Results
| Position | Team | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navarone–Armageddon | US$15,000 and championship trophy |
| 2 | Land Sharks II | US$5,000 and second-place trophy |
| 3 | Texas Boonie Rats | US$2,000 and third-place trophy |
| 4 | Unknown Rebels | Safety equipment supplied by JT Racing |
The placements and awards were documented in Front Line. JT Racing was also identified as Navarone–Armageddon's sponsor.[1]
Subsequent event
A later history published by the World Classic Paintball League records another Air Pistol Open at the New York field in 1988.[2]
See also
References
- “The First International Air Pistol Open”, Front Line, September 1987, pp. 5–7. Digitised issue hosted by Old Paintball Magazines.
- World Classic Paintball League, WCPL NY: An Historic Field, March 2023.