Volcanic Rotorua Paintball Tournament
Volcanic Rotorua Paintball Tournament (also known as Volcanic Rotorua) was a New Zealand competitive paintball tournament advertised for 2–3 June 2001 at Rotorua International Stadium in Rotorua, New Zealand. The event was developed by the Rotorua Paintball Club in association with the Rotorua-based tournament team Tag n' Release, with support from Actions Paintball Sports Arena (APSA).
The tournament was promoted as a major addition to New Zealand's competitive paintball calendar, with plans for a two-day, seven-player competition using inflatable Sup'AirBall playing fields within an international sporting stadium.[1][2]
The original announcement specified an open-division, two-flag format using Australian Paintball Players League (APPL) rules. Team entry was advertised at NZ$500, with teams permitted to supply their own paintballs.[1]
The independent Valhalla National Rankings subsequently recorded results from a 2001 Rotorua seven-man tournament, including preliminary and divisional rounds. These results provide evidence of competitive play associated with the event, although a complete final classification has not been recovered.[3]
Volcanic Rotorua formed part of efforts by the Rotorua paintball community to establish major tournament competition outside Auckland and to develop facilities and events comparable with those used internationally.
Background
Tournament paintball in New Zealand
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, New Zealand tournament paintball was organised through commercial playing fields, regional clubs and independent event organisers.
Major competitions included the New Zealand Paintball Nationals, Northland Open and South Pacific Championships.
The original National Paintball League had attempted to coordinate national competition beginning in 1997.
However, its original two-division structure had been discontinued by 1999.
Tournament organisers continued to operate individual events, while teams travelled between Auckland, Northland, Wellington, Rotorua and other regions to compete.
The development of Volcanic Rotorua reflected an interest in establishing a major tournament in the central North Island.
Rotorua paintball community
Rotorua had an active recreational and competitive paintball community by 2000.
The region was associated with Paintball Rotorua, the Rotorua Paintball Club and the team Tag n' Release.
Tag n' Release was formed in March 2000 and developed rapidly from recreational woodland games into national tournament competition.
The team won Second Division at the 2000 New Zealand Paintball Nationals.
Its stated objectives included promoting competitive paintball in the central North Island, encouraging new players and organising tournaments.[4]
These objectives contributed to the development of the Rotorua Invitational and the subsequent plans for a larger stadium event.
Origins
Rotorua Invitational
The Rotorua Invitational was established by Tag n' Release and the Rotorua Paintball Club in 2000.
Its inaugural competition took place on 3 December 2000 at Blue Lake Reserve in Rotorua.
Four teams participated:
- Katipo
- Tag n' Release
- Havoc
- DamNatives
The competition used a temporary speedball playing field constructed with portable barriers.
Each team played every other team twice.
Katipo finished with the highest score and won the event.[5]
The Invitational was intended to encourage participation, interregional competition and the development of refereeing experience.
Plans for a larger tournament
The Rotorua organisers subsequently developed plans for a larger tournament over Queen's Birthday weekend in 2001.
The proposed event would differ substantially from the smaller Rotorua Invitational.
Instead of using a temporary field at Blue Lake Reserve, it was planned for Rotorua International Stadium.
The organisers proposed a two-day competition with seven-player teams, prizes, spectator seating and tournament infrastructure.
An announcement written by Russell "Dangermouse" Clement described the aim of establishing a major tournament that could attract teams from throughout New Zealand and potentially Australia.[2]
The proposal subsequently appeared under the formal event name Volcanic Rotorua Paintball Tournament.
Organisation
Rotorua Paintball Club
The original tournament announcement identified the Rotorua Paintball Club as one of the presenting organisations.
The club had previously assisted with the inaugural Rotorua Invitational, including providing facilities and gas.
Its involvement in Volcanic Rotorua reflected the continuation of efforts to develop organised tournament paintball in the region.
The club's complete committee and legal structure have not been established from the surviving event records.
Tag n' Release
Tag n' Release was named alongside the Rotorua Paintball Club in the original event announcement.[1]
The team had already been involved in establishing local tournament competition.
Russell Clement's organising account specifically stated that Tag n' Release members had undertaken most of the planning for the stadium tournament.[2]
The team was therefore a central participant in developing the event.
Russell Clement
Russell Clement, also known as Dangermouse, was a Tag n' Release player and the team's information contact and historian.
He published information about Volcanic Rotorua through the Mercenaries Star website.
His correspondence described the planned facilities, competition format, accommodation arrangements, entry fees and division structure.
He also explained how responsibilities were being divided between the Rotorua organisers and outside tournament administrators.
Kyn Jackson
Kyn Jackson, associated with Actions Paintball Sports Arena in Auckland, was involved in arrangements for the proposed tournament.
Clement's announcement explained that Jackson had been asked to assist with running the competition on the day.[2]
The distinction between planning and event-day administration was made explicitly.
Tag n' Release members had undertaken most of the planning, while Jackson was expected to assist with the running of the tournament itself.
Jackson had previously been involved in the administration of the original National Paintball League.
His association brought experience from the Auckland tournament scene to the Rotorua project.
Actions Paintball Sports Arena
The Mercenaries Star tournament calendar described Volcanic Rotorua as being backed by APSA and the Rotorua Paintball Club.[6]
APSA was an abbreviation used for Actions Paintball Sports Arena.
The Auckland operator had previously hosted national tournament competitions and maintained links with competitive paintball players.
The exact commercial or financial arrangements associated with APSA's support have not been established.
Tournament announcement
The original Volcanic Rotorua announcement preserved the following information:
| Item | Advertised details |
|---|---|
| Event name | Volcanic Rotorua Paintball Tournament |
| Dates | 2–3 June 2001 |
| Venue | Rotorua International Stadium |
| Region | Rotorua, New Zealand |
| Organisers | Rotorua Paintball Club and Tag n' Release |
| Team format | Seven-man |
| Game format | End flags, two flags |
| Division | Open |
| Rules | Australian Paintball Players League |
| Entry fee | NZ$500 per team |
| Paintball policy | Bring your own |
| Compressed gas | By arrangement |
Source: Original Volcanic Rotorua tournament announcement.[1]
The announcement provides a contemporary record of the event's intended format and operating arrangements.
Rotorua International Stadium
Venue selection
Rotorua International Stadium was selected as the proposed venue for the tournament.
Unlike conventional woodland paintball fields, the stadium offered an established sporting facility with spectator seating, dressing rooms and player facilities.
Clement's announcement described the stadium as having recently undergone an upgrade costing approximately NZ$5 million.[2]
The stadium was intended to provide a professional setting for a national paintball competition.
Player facilities
The original promotional account identified several advantages of the venue.
These included:
- Dressing rooms
- Player lounges
- Spectator seating
- Space for tournament playing fields
- Facilities suitable for visiting teams
Such facilities were not always available at commercial recreational paintball fields.
The choice of a stadium reflected the organisers' ambition to present competitive paintball as a spectator sport.
Spectator access
The organisers expected members of the public to be able to attend and watch the competition.
The use of an established stadium was intended to make spectator accommodation easier than at a temporary woodland field.
The planning documents referred to dedicated seating for spectators.
The surviving sources do not establish actual spectator attendance.
Sup'AirBall playing fields
Proposed field infrastructure
The organisers proposed using two Sup'AirBall playing fields.
Sup'AirBall was a system of inflatable tournament bunkers that could be arranged in different layouts.
The equipment was increasingly used in international competitive paintball during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Compared with fixed woodland obstacles, inflatable bunkers could be positioned to create purpose-built competition layouts.
They could also be packed away and transported between venues.
International-standard competition
The 2001 tournament calendar described Volcanic Rotorua as a proposed Sup'AirBall tournament in an international stadium.[6]
The combination of a major sporting venue and inflatable tournament bunkers was promoted as an important development for New Zealand paintball.
It reflected the growing international influence of specialist speedball competition.
The organisers intended for the event to provide playing conditions comparable with major overseas tournaments.
Field verification
Clement's planning account stated that the use of two Sup'AirBall fields was still being finalised when the announcement was written.[2]
The surviving records do not independently confirm that both proposed fields were ultimately installed.
The stadium and inflatable playing-field arrangements should therefore be understood as documented plans rather than assumed completed infrastructure.
Competition format
Seven-man
The original announcement specified a seven-man competition.[1]
Seven-player teams were increasingly prominent in international tournament paintball at the time.
The larger roster allowed teams to distribute players across defensive, central and attacking positions.
The format was also used in major New Zealand tournaments during the 2001 season.
Two-flag format
The event was advertised as an end-flags competition using two flags.
Teams would compete within a defined playing area according to the event's scoring and elimination rules.
The original announcement confirms the game format but does not preserve the exact point values awarded for eliminations, flag captures or other objectives.
Australian Paintball Players League rules
The organisers adopted Australian Paintball Players League rules.
The APPL provided a recognised set of tournament regulations used by Australasian paintball organisers.
The rules covered competition administration, player equipment, eliminations and refereeing.
Adopting an established rules framework was intended to make the tournament accessible to travelling teams familiar with Australian-style competition.
Divisions
The formal tournament announcement identified the competition class as Open.
An earlier organising account discussed awarding prizes in two divisions.[2]
The original event records therefore contain both an Open-class announcement and references to multiple divisions.
The 2001 Valhalla records subsequently identify separate First and Second Division rounds for the Rotorua tournament.[3]
This indicates that the results were recorded using a divisional structure following the opening round.
The exact qualification rules and the number of teams advancing into each division have not been recovered.
Entry fees and equipment
Team entry
The advertised entry fee was NZ$500 per team.
This was substantially higher than the NZ$70 team entry fee advertised for the 2001 Northland Open.
The difference reflected the greater scale and facilities proposed for the Rotorua stadium event, although the surviving records do not provide a detailed tournament budget.
Paintball supply
The announcement permitted teams to bring their own paintballs.
It also offered paintballs by prior arrangement at 7.5 cents per ball.
The named contacts for paintball supply included Tony Witheridge and Lucas Kreusei.[1]
The announcement advised players to give suppliers sufficient notice when making arrangements.
Compressed gas
Both carbon dioxide and nitrogen or compressed-air supply were listed as available by arrangement.
During the early 2000s, New Zealand tournament players used a mixture of CO2 and high-pressure air systems.
The availability of suitable gas supply was therefore an important logistical requirement for tournament organisers.
The original announcement does not identify the precise filling equipment, pressure ratings or number of filling stations proposed for the event.
Supplier displays
The organisers hoped to provide space for equipment suppliers at the stadium.
The formal announcement identified Tony Witheridge as intending to establish a supplier booth.
The earlier planning account also referred to a proposed suppliers' tent.
The surviving materials document these arrangements as advertised intentions.
Travelling teams and accommodation
Visiting players
Volcanic Rotorua was intended to attract competitors from outside the central North Island.
The stadium tournament was promoted as an opportunity for teams from different regions to compete in one location.
The organisers also hoped to attract Australian teams.
Clement's early announcement referred to possible Australian participation but stated that details had yet to be finalised.[2]
The available sources do not identify any Australian team as a confirmed participant.
Accommodation
Tag n' Release manager Peter Mumby was involved in contacting Rotorua accommodation providers.
Clement reported that local motels were willing to offer discounted rates for visiting players.
The anticipated cost was approximately NZ$25–40 per person per night.
These arrangements were intended to reduce the expense of travelling to Rotorua for a two-day tournament.
Social activities
The organisers also discussed holding a players' social event after the tournament.
The proposed programme included prizes, giveaways and opportunities for competitors to meet outside the playing field.
These arrangements reflected the community-building approach previously used by Tag n' Release at the Rotorua Invitational.
Tournament results
Surviving Valhalla records
The 2001 Valhalla National Rankings preserve results from a Rotorua seven-man tournament.
The recorded stages include:
- Round 1 Open
- Round 2 First Division
- Round 2 Second Division
These records provide strong evidence of tournament competition in Rotorua during 2001.[3]
The ranking database, however, used normalised scores for its national ranking calculations.
Its point values are not the original event's raw tournament scores.
Opening-round performances
The following teams had recorded values in the Rotorua opening-round column:
| Team | Ranking value |
|---|---|
| Katipo | 86.8 |
| Saints Gold | 83.4 |
| Black Dragon | 82.5 |
| Jetts | 82.4 |
| Phoenix (WGN) Red | 74.9 |
| Phantom 5 | 65.7 |
| Kamo Karzi | 63.9 |
| Damage | 63.9 |
| Tag n' Release | 62.5 |
| Katipo B | 59.3 |
| DamNatives Red | 49.6 |
| Full Boar | 28.6 |
| Havoc | 28.2 |
| Shock Tactics | 25 |
| Warp Speed | 25 |
| Brew Ha | 20.7 |
| Insane | 5.6 |
Source: 2001 Valhalla seven-man rankings.[3]
The figures reflect the normalised performance of each team in the recorded opening round.
They are not final tournament placements.
The source identifies seventeen named entries with non-zero opening-round contributions.
It does not establish whether additional teams participated without a recorded ranking contribution.
First Division
The Valhalla table contains separate First Division round values for four teams.
| Team | Ranking value |
|---|---|
| Jetts | 96.7 |
| Saints Gold | 73.3 |
| Katipo | 48.3 |
| Black Dragon | 10 |
These results establish the teams recorded in the First Division round.
Jetts had the highest normalised value in that stage.
However, the surviving table does not provide a complete final tournament classification or explicitly designate a tournament champion.
Second Division
The Valhalla table also records Second Division round values.
| Team | Ranking value |
|---|---|
| Damage | 73.3 |
| DamNatives Red | 70 |
| Full Boar | 45 |
| Havoc | 6.7 |
Damage recorded the highest Second Division round value.
As with First Division, this does not independently establish an officially declared tournament winner.
Tournament winner
The surviving Valhalla rankings do not explicitly name the overall winner of Volcanic Rotorua.
They record separate preliminary and divisional-round performances but do not reproduce a complete final score sheet or awards listing.
Jetts recorded the highest First Division round value, while Damage recorded the highest Second Division value.
Those observations should not be converted into definitive event championship claims without an original results report confirming the event's scoring and placing rules.
Relationship with other Rotorua competitions
Rotorua Invitational
The Rotorua Invitational began in December 2000 as a smaller event at Blue Lake Reserve.
It was organised by Tag n' Release and the Rotorua Paintball Club.
The inaugural event featured four teams and was won by Katipo.
Volcanic Rotorua developed within the same organising community but was a larger project associated with Rotorua International Stadium.
The two competitions should be distinguished in historical accounts.
National tournament calendar
Volcanic Rotorua formed part of the 2001 competitive calendar alongside established events such as the Northland Open, South Pacific Championships and New Zealand Paintball Nationals.
The original Mercenaries Star calendar welcomed its addition and described the proposed stadium and Sup'AirBall arrangements as an important development for the sport.[6]
National rankings
The Rotorua seven-man results contributed to the 2001 Valhalla National Rankings.
These rankings also incorporated results from the Northland Open and New Zealand Paintball Nationals.
Saints Gold finished first in the published national seven-man rankings, followed by Jetts and Katipo.
Those national standings represent cumulative performances across the recorded season, not the final results of Volcanic Rotorua alone.
Historical significance
Volcanic Rotorua represented an ambitious attempt to develop major tournament paintball in the central North Island.
The event was promoted for an established international stadium rather than a conventional commercial woodland field.
Its planned use of Sup'AirBall bunkers reflected the growing influence of international speedball competition.
The involvement of Tag n' Release and the Rotorua Paintball Club demonstrates the role played by regional teams and volunteers in expanding New Zealand's tournament infrastructure.
The project also drew support from the Auckland competitive paintball community through Actions Paintball Sports Arena and Kyn Jackson.
The published arrangements provide valuable evidence of early-2000s tournament organisation, including entry fees, paintball supply, compressed gas, accommodation and player facilities.
The surviving Valhalla records document competitive activity and a field of participating teams, including several of New Zealand's leading tournament organisations.
Although the complete final standings and the delivery of every advertised stadium facility have not been independently verified, Volcanic Rotorua remains a significant example of efforts to establish purpose-built, high-profile competitive paintball events in New Zealand during the early 2000s.
See also
- Rotorua Invitational
- Tag n' Release
- Rotorua Paintball Club
- Valhalla National Rankings
- New Zealand Paintball Nationals
- Northland Open
- Katipo Paintball Team
- Saints Paintball Team
- Kyn Jackson
- Actions Paintball
- Mercenaries Star
References
- Volcanic Rotorua Paintball Tournament. Mercenaries Star, 2001. Original event announcement identifying the formal tournament name, dates, Rotorua International Stadium, seven-man format, entry fee, APPL rules and equipment arrangements.
- Rotorua Invitational Paintball Days. Russell "Dangermouse" Clement, Mercenaries Star, 2001. Contemporary organising account discussing stadium facilities, two proposed Sup'AirBall fields, accommodation, Kyn Jackson and Tag n' Release's planning responsibilities.
- Valhalla Hall of Heroes – 2001. Mercenaries Star. Seven-man rankings with Rotorua preliminary and divisional-round values.
- Tag n' Release Team Profile. Russell Clement, Mercenaries Star, April 2001. Describes the Rotorua team's formation, objectives, home field and tournament activities.
- Rotorua Invitational – Inaugural Event. Russell Clement. Documents the 3 December 2000 tournament at Blue Lake Reserve and Katipo's victory.
- Annual Tournament Events. Mercenaries Star, 2001. Lists Volcanic Rotorua as a new tournament backed by APSA and the Rotorua Paintball Club, with planned stadium and Sup'AirBall facilities.