Insane (New Zealand Paintball Team)
Team Insane, also known as Insane, was a New Zealand tournament paintball team based in Auckland. The team was active from at least 2000 and competed in national and regional three-player and seven-player tournaments.[1][2]
Insane's strongest documented result was second place in the three-player standings of the Valhalla National Rankings published in October 2001, with 181.7 ranking points. The team also participated in the Northland Open, RotoVegas and New Zealand Paintball Nationals during the same year.[2]
History
Formation
According to firsthand recollections recorded for WikiPaintball in October 2026, Team Insane formed around 2000 from players associated with the South Auckland Miniature Wargames Club and Red Alert Paintball Club.
Kevin Lunt served as team captain. The team brought together players from Auckland's recreational and club paintball community to participate in organised tournaments.
The surviving Mercenaries Star records confirm that Insane was competing by 2000, although its exact founding date has not been independently established.[1]
Tournament competition
Insane appears in the 2000 Valhalla National Rankings with nine ranking points.[1]
During 2001, the team competed in both seven-player and three-player tournament formats.
In seven-player competition, Insane entered the Northland Open, RotoVegas in Rotorua and the New Zealand Paintball Nationals. The team placed 21st among 23 entries in the Valhalla rankings published in October 2001, with 28.2 points.[2]
Insane achieved stronger results in three-player competition, placing second in the published Valhalla standings with 181.7 points, behind DamNatives Red on 226.4 points.[2]
The team's ranking contributions came from the Indoor Three-Man Open Competition and Combat Zone Three-Mans.
The October 2001 standings also document a separate entry, Insane B, which placed 24th in the three-player rankings with 28.3 points.[2]
Valhalla was an independent ranking system maintained by Mercenaries Star. Its standings should not be confused with official championship placings at individual tournaments.[3]
Players
Firsthand historical recollections identify the following players as members of Team Insane during its early years:
- Kevin Lunt – Team captain.
- Andy Lunt – Player.
- Neil Morris – Player.
- Vitaly Miheev – Player.
- Francis Hambrook – Player.
- Adam Hambrook – Player.
- Michael Earley – Player.
These names represent a partial historical membership list rather than a confirmed roster for any individual tournament. The available tournament rankings do not identify complete playing line-ups.
Tournament results
The following results are drawn from the historical Valhalla National Rankings.[1][2]
| Year | Competition | Team | Ranking | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Valhalla national rankings | Insane | Listed | 9 |
| 2001 | Valhalla seven-player rankings | Insane | 21st of 23 | 28.2 |
| 2001 | Valhalla three-player rankings | Insane | 2nd | 181.7 |
| 2001 | Valhalla three-player rankings | Insane B | 24th | 28.3 |
The 2001 figures reflect standings published in October of that year. They are ranking points calculated by Valhalla rather than individual match scores or independently confirmed final tournament placings.
See also
- Valhalla National Rankings
- Mercenaries Star
- Northland Open
- New Zealand Paintball Nationals
- Paintball in New Zealand
References
- Mercenaries Star, "2000 Valhalla National Rankings", historical New Zealand team standings.
- Mercenaries Star, "2001 Valhalla National Rankings", October 2001 seven-player and three-player standings.
- Mercenaries Star, "Valhalla National Team Rankings", original ranking methodology and scoring rules.