7 Man Tournament - Blackpool beach?

[e-whore]

I think it is up to us as responsible tournament players to step up to the plate and show the public how the game should be played, and how we take safety issues - marker, goggles and air fill safety - very seriously.

This has the potential to be a really great event if it is done properly.

As WDP might once have said -

"I don't feel like playing in the woods today. Let's go to the beach instead."

I think this is a really good idea and as you say lets us ballers show the public how it is "really" played instead of the feckin gogg lifting tv spots pb gets all the time.

 

[Lump]

build it. and they will come

 

[Tony Harrison]

Blackpool Beachball 2008 - "build it and they will come"

I'd like to thank everyone for their positive response to this idea - I was talking to a team last night who very excited about the concept.

In response to some of the queries I have had:-

1. We can use blowers to get sand out of markers, just like at HB.

2. The temperature at Blackpool is OK to play in, even at this time of year. As we all know, we can get extreme weather anywhere at odd times of the
year - PSP Texas 2006 being a good example.

I have reffed at events in Spain, the USA and Malaysia in the pouring rain,
and the events played just fine.

Mind you, I have also reffed in Birmingham and Elsham in the pouring rain,
but we kind of expect that in the UK!

3. Lump - my thoughts exactly.

Happy to respond to any more queries.

 

[scott_peters]

Do it you would get most teams go i know it

And i have though of a good use for the donkeys.........Use them as the bunkers then in between games you can just walk them down to the sea and wash them off and also no transpotation costs they are already there

 

[evoonline]

i think teams from all over the UK would play this simply because it would be a one off ? (or would it ). trains and whatnot run directly into blackpool, b&bs, hotels, the pier. its all there. would make quite the UK spectacle.

 

[Tony Harrison]

Blackpool Beachball 2008 - "build it and they will come"

Thanks, guys.

The UK Refs might even help out with this -

Gilly would be a donkey, as usual, or he can be in charge of PR or customer services (he has people skills);

Russ could supervise the brews, as per;

Big Dave would make an excellent bunker -very bouncy;

Stuart would make sure that none of the players get drunk by drinking all of the bars dry then turning up at the field early & stone cold sober (how does he do that?)

Ant would supply the snake. (They don't call him "The Stack" for nothing, and he always gets extra love from customs officials)

 

[e-whore]

The team members i have spoke to on our team are really excited about this. And they only play woods ball

you get a 2 thumbs up from us go for it

 

[Dusty]

I think this is a fantastic idea!! Finally for once someone is thinking outside the box for a change.....

I think as Lump quite rightly (almost) quoted if you build it, they will come. on the other hand, UK teams being as apathetic as they are, you would well be let down by them, through no fault of your own.

If this went ahead, which i believe could be done, i think it would be a great event. Good luck to you!!

Russ, you mention a roofed area, surely it wouldn't be difficult to whack up a safety netting roof would it? i certainly don't claim to be an expert, but i really can't imagine it would be a major problem for the guys who erect the posts etc.

 

[Russell Smith]

Ok guys confession time,

The Paintball Association looked at this about three years ago along with other sites round the country including two of the Royal parks in central London and a couple of major shopping centres.

We decided that the cost of producing the event on the beach would be totally prohibitive and we put it on the back burner until we have those sorts of funds.
We believe an event next to the beach using turf would be viable and could cause a better interaction with the public.

We have spoke to the Blackpool development department at the council and they did not have any out and out objections (in fact they were quite warm with the idea) to the concept, they said we would have to summit designs of the enclosed field and a copy of the safety assessment for the site at the first stage and it would progress from there.
I estimate the lead time required would be at least 12 months.

Pretty standard stuff really but as I said, we believe at this point there are too many points against the project to use the actual beach.
Including the fact that it is full tidal. (the sea tide floods all the beach) so your safety netting becomes a fishing net! mind you I suppose thats breakfast sorted.

Russ

 

[Russell Smith]

Russ, you mention a roofed area, surely it wouldn't be difficult to whack up a safety netting roof would it? i certainly don't claim to be an expert, but i really can't imagine it would be a major problem for the guys who erect the posts etc.

It's not a problem just another cost factor and something else that has to be considered because when you think about it, yes it does answer the concerns re balls going over the netting but it will effect game play.
Some buggers will shoot at the roof so it falls on the opposition.


Russ