Midlands Masters - 2003 - Feedback Required

[blakey]

Ok guys n gals in p8ntland......................

We at the Midlands Masters pride ourselves on listening to the players, and do react. We are hearing a mixed review of the second round, so please post your views here on the following.

The fields, with regards to the layout and the judging.
1- Hyperball.
2-Mid Sup-air.
3- Far Sup-air.
4-Pro Bunker systems.
5-Ultimate air.

We have already heard a couple of views about the wierd approach to placing Sup-air in woods, and the safety issues. But please post your constructive views here. And lets not forget, taht accidnts do happen on pure concept fields too. The point is how do YOU play on them,.

Your views please also on the Facilities on site.
6 Food
7 Safe area
8 Safety
9 Toilets
10 Car Parking.

Now your views on the event organisation.
11 The promotors - attitude, helpfulness etc.
12 Scheduling - turnarounds, finish and start times
13 Trophies and prizes.
14 Format - game time, scoring, seeding
15 Support crew -Angel Techs, trade.

Finally
What would you like to see us change/introduce?
Please keep your comments relevant, and try to resist the urge to threadjack.

Thanks, if we don't know what you want we can't provide it.

Blakey.MM

 

[Duncster]

If you need to stick things in the woods because there is absolutely no other choice, then fair enough. At least it's a workable solution. I personally thought the Ultimate Air field was superb, despite the trees. The tents were a bit too small though (maybe that's just me...) and I for one wouldn't miss them much.

The Hyperball is always a winner. Perhaps more suited to 7-man, but plays very well as a 5 man field (if a bit stinky in those subs...)

The near sup'air was the best field there. The presence of only one back coke-can seemed to promote slightly more aggresive play, as well as the sheer quantity of bunkers. So I'd say keep that. The far sup'air, however, could have been more imaginatively laid out. It didn't really offer a great deal of scope for variation. I think the best layout I've seen for this field was round 3 last year up at Wrexham, so it is possible.

As for the staff... I think you should sack the lot of them. OK, I lied, I don't think you could find a better crew to run these events. What do you feed them? they always seem so happy (?) to be there!!

The marshalling is always going to be a tricky one, as many people have differing views (guys, try marshalling a few events...then you're qualified to judge). Personally, I thought the marshalling was perfectly adequate. Of course there are always going to be calls you don't agree with, or obvious hits that you can see from the sidelines but the judges can't seem to spot. It's always easier to see from the sidelines.

What's the rules on calling hits from the sidelines? perhaps spectators should be allowed to point out hits to marshalls from the sidelines?? May discourage playing on, etc...

On the organisation side of things, I don't think you could actually improve on this even if you tried. Actually, maybe radios for the head marshalls on each field, and a PA. As there were more than a few times when we were waiting at the field for a long time for teams who were sitting relaxing back in the safe area not even realising they were needed at the fields.

Just my two cents!! Nice work guys.... keep doing what you do.... You must be doing something right if you can totally fill up a 40 team event a month before it's even on!!

Dunc.

 

[bazil 40]

blakey
i thought everything was tops, the pro bunker system wasnt to everyones liking but you have to adapt your style to each field which made it more of a challenge.
you guys have taken the uk scene up a level
baz
uk jaguars

 

[tb-303]

Firstly the judging on all the fields that we played was great and we had no bad calls or issues with the judges at all.

1- Hyperball. loved it but felt it was just too big, good for 7-10 man but 5man was tough.encouraged ppl to move though which made good games to watch.
2-Mid Sup-air & 3- Far Sup-air. good to see bigger bunkers being used, no center barracade made things interesting and one sided(on the field) but both played well.
4-Pro Bunker systems. was this the crufts one? weird field we played it once and wouldn't mind playing it again to try again, pretty fun but the barracades were too small for guys like me
5-Ultimate air. good fun field and with the trees in the way it made shooting lanes interesting and a more tactacle game was needed. the only problem with the wwod fields was the little stumps all over the place, i saw one guy go arse over tit and didn't fancy doing it myself, but with those out the way it would play better.I preffered the 2 woodland fields to the ones in round one though.

6 Food, good food and pretty good prices, will definately eat there again.
7 Safe area, nice large safe area no problems there.
8 Safety seemed very good, all areas that needed to be were netted off well.
9 Toilets, they done the job, no complaints there
10 Car Parking. BIG parking area no problems except carrying the kit(show me where that ain't a problem!)

11 The promotors - attitude, helpfulness etc. very friendly and helpful, this is athe way all tourneys should be run
12 Scheduling - turnarounds, finish and start times, the woodland fields were a bit slow but that often happens with wood coz the games often go the full time, but nothing to winge about. the other 3 fields were fine, no excessive waiting around at all.
13 Trophies and prizes. nice but i didn't get one!
14 Format - game time, scoring, seeding, scoring and game rules were fine, seeding was interesting but it must be really hard to get right, it was mine and another guy in our teams first tourney and we were div C. but it didn't bother me.
15 Support crew -Angel Techs, trade. Don't have an angel but if i did i'd go to these guys, they work well and deserve praise for the number of markers they sorted out through out the day. shame there was only 1 trade stand but they were well stocked and done a good job.

it was a great day and the atmosphere was fantastic, anyone who wants to try tourney but is put off by scary tourney players, come to a midland masters event you'll love it, everyone was really friendly and you'll have a great day. it was my first and certainly won't be my last. it's weird but its the first thing that hits you when you get there is the friendly vibe.

tb-303

 

[jon townley]

Blakey,

From my point of view, the organisation is some of the best I've seen. Things run nearer to time than most sites and I think the only improvement that could be made, if you are strapped for time and if all of the teams want it, is to radio control all of the fields with simultaneous start at a set time. Of course, what that does mean is that teams will have to accept the penalty for not being there on time and there's no time at the end for arguing with the judges. (Wouldn't that be nice!!)

In terms of the actual fields themselves, I'm not a big fan of the standard Sup Air fields that are connected by tubes as they tend to be very small, of a similar layout each time and tend to promote static 'slug-it-out' play that relies heavily on volume of paint.

I would much prefer the ultimate air as the principles are there, but allow for infinate variations in field size, design and location.

As for the 'wendy houses', in principle they seem a good idea as they have the ability for variable fields, but with the added advantage that if you try to lean on them they collapse which adds a new dimension. The only problem is in open areas on a windy day as anyone that played Hilton park before Christmas will understand - one strong gust of wind and they all lie down, leaving 10 blokes stood on a flat / open field (interesting!!)

That's about it really - in short, keep doing what you're doing and you won't go far wrong.

Take it easy and we'll see you at the next one!

Jon

 

[Burb]

Marshal

Field 4 (Wendy House) - Should have been more Stand up bunkers, especially due to the field conditions. Reducing the need to slide.

Neutral Player Call - I witnessed various calls for "Neutral Player" where they where complety not needed. As a marshal you should use a "Neutral Player" call as a last resort to checking them. It takes the player out of the game for no need - making it easy for the opposing team to wrap around there bunker and shoot places they couldnt shoot before.

I know im a marshal - so its ironic i should mention this point but i heard it being raised in the safe zone, and on the side lines.

 

[Cook$]

supair was fine, all was cool.
ultimate air was ok, but, would have been soooo much better if it wasnt in the goddamn woods!! we chose the top end, because the run into the bunkers wasnt as obscured by big piles of sh*t. thats the type of thing that should be remedied.
pro bunker systems, I actually liked it!!! it needs some bigger bunkers for the fat lads, but i liked the way you could press yourself into the bunkers really well. would have been better without the woods tho......
Hyperball, not mega keen , but i spose you cant really go changin that one. bit too big, bit too muddy.
staff, all ace, 'specially EagleEye Phil, and Rowley Birkin Les. the only one you wanna get rid of is that fag Cowboy .
good tourney, thanks to my guys for playin a blinder.
L8r
Cook$™
did i mention I only got shot once all day?

 

[Walker (Nitro)]

Hyperball field rules! no woods ever again, and balls to those who disagree

 

[cappy]

set up

I totaly agree with dunc nothing else to say realy except that I loved playing storm yg what a great game that was thanks see you at R3 .....
Steve team Hannables heroes

 

[RICH HARRIS]

Please, please, please no more woods.........................to big to hide behind little tree's so need big brightly coloured things to use as cover.