2008 Tauranga 5 Man

Tauranga 5 Man, also referred to as Tauranga 5s, was a five-player tournament paintball competition held in Mount Maunganui, near Tauranga, New Zealand, during the late 2000s.

Contemporary records from the NZ Paintball Message Boards document tournaments during 2008 and plans for a six-round championship in 2009. The competition used an inflatable speedball field near the Mount Maunganui speedway and was intended to accommodate both experienced and developing players.[1][2][3]

History

2008 season

The Tauranga 5 Man competition was advertised in April 2008, with plans for monthly tournaments.[1]

The venue was described as a speedball field near Tip Lane, Mount Maunganui, close to the local speedway.

The playing field measured approximately 32 by 62 metres and used 21 inflatable bunkers.[1]

The original competition format included:

Five-player teams.
Hopper plus two additional pods of paintballs.
Player refereeing, with a head referee responsible for final decisions.
Field paint only.
Entry fees of NZ$35 per player.
Paintballs priced at NZ$85 per case.

Compressed-air facilities were being developed, and players were initially advised to provide their own high-pressure air supplies.

The May tournament was cancelled because of insufficient team entries. A later announcement confirmed that an event would be held on 10 August 2008.[1]

August 2008 tournament

The competition took place on 10 August 2008, as confirmed by reports posted following the event.[2]

Contemporary discussions identified prospective participants associated with Final Impact, Legion-esque and a newly formed team called N.S.S. (Never Stop Shooting).[1]

N.S.S. subsequently confirmed its attendance and described receiving assistance from more experienced players during the tournament.[2]

Photographs from the event were shared through an online gallery, although complete team standings have not been recovered.[2]

September 2008 tournament

A further tournament took place on 14 September 2008.

A post-event report confirmed participation by players travelling from Auckland and described the event as an opportunity for experienced competitors to assist newer teams.[3]

The organisers continued to encourage participation from surrounding regions, including Hamilton.

Complete results from the September competition have not been recovered.

Later 2008 events

The October tournament was replaced by a training session after several teams withdrew.

The November round was cancelled because of a scheduling conflict with another paintball event.

Although a December tournament was initially proposed, a subsequent announcement confirmed that the playing field would be closed during that period.[3][4]

2009 season plans

In November 2008, plans were announced for a new Tauranga 5 Man championship during 2009.[4]

The proposed competition was revised several times. By January 2009, organisers were advertising a six-round series with championship events every second month and additional training sessions between tournament rounds.[3][4]

The published format included:

Five-player teams.
A maximum of 12 additional pods per team per game, plus loaders.
NZPPL rules.
Field paint only.
Entry fees of NZ$40 per player, including compressed air.
Paintballs priced at NZ$70 per case.
Compressed-air fills advertised at 4,000 psi.

A championship trophy and prize money of up to NZ$500 were proposed for the leading team, subject to sufficient entries.

The opening round was rescheduled to 22 February 2009 to avoid a clash with the Hawke’s Bay Triples tournament.

An announcement dated 18 February indicated that four teams were expected to participate.[3]

The surviving records do not establish the final results of the opening round or whether the full six-round championship was completed.

Competition format

The Tauranga 5 Man competition was designed as a local five-player speedball tournament, with limited paintball allowances intended to make participation more affordable.

Its organisers also promoted training opportunities and encouraged experienced players to assist newcomers.

The proposed 2009 programme included regular training sessions between championship rounds, providing opportunities for players to develop their tournament skills.[3][4]

Historical records

Surviving information about the Tauranga 5 Man competition is preserved through archived discussions from the NZ Paintball Message Boards, hosted on Yuku during 2008 and 2009.

These records document tournament planning, competition rules, equipment requirements, cancellations and reports confirming that events took place.

Complete tournament standings, championship results and the competition's final operating date have not been established.

References