Firstly a massive Thanks to Jim & Tim @ Warped for asking me to be The Northern General..
Being my first leadership post of this size, it's been an overwhelming and eye opening experience to say the least...
Playing against The Southern General who was truly passionate about his leadership and set up skills truly reflecting in his status on the field at key times of the day, so hats off to Jamie ; ) (must get that back to you mate)
The game started well with key groups immediately finding 3 pieces of jewelry and the two main battle groups holding the line across the middle of the game area and controlling the re-spawn points.. (no arm bands was an issue at this point but soon resolved by Madmother and the warped crew) only to be quickly over run by large contingencies of the South... The fall back point for the North was The Bank Vault with its main re-spawn building which was then slowly surrounded by Southern forces and eventually taken. This was then followed by hard counter attacks and insertions all day by both sides.. South dominated the North for at least 3/4 of the day, but the North kept on killing and by 3pm in the afternoon had captured 3/4 of the field, finally a joy to see a mass of red arm bands but unfortunately still no Jewelry.. Some having been kept and hidden (nice move) and in particular one piece having been robbed
(big mistake) The Northern squads kept pushing to locate the Jewels to no avail and eventually ran out of air and paint and above all, time.. Game Over and thinking that the South had won... (Brief but accurate)
Good Points
WE WON !!
Re-spawn points and lock down buildings gave for some real fierce fire fights..
Change over times on the entrance points stopped a percentage of long balling and gave a real 360 feel to the game..
Insertion vehicles were a great asset to the Norths counter pushes throughout the day...
Bus stops worked well this year with more frequent pick ups..
Constant flow of air and the good old hiss of co2
Trade stands were awesome..
Issues
Cheating on BOTH sides
Radios and too many black spots on the field..
Short period without arm bands
A few Northerners running !! You know who you are
Boo to all the haters!!
More passion required by players during the game, smiles on faces and less bloody moaning .. IT'S A GAME !!!
Too many people leaving throughout the day and not staying for the end result.. (we understand some people have to get away)
Thanks
Massive thanks go out to Jim, Lottie, Tim, (all Frenshams including Stanley and Taylors we met, can't remember all names), Mikey and wife, Julian? for the art work on my gun, for a fantastic well co-ordinated event (wish i'd been so organised myself
) To Rachel (team Mongoose) and my missus for running the Norths Command post and giving positivity to players when the fight looked lost.. My gang of lads from Tazball Paintball, Drew and Tid from the Pirates, Badger, Cammy and Graham from The Scottish Warriors and the lads from Battlegrounds. Congratulations to OTE Mercs who deservedly received the Norths Squad of the Day trophy for there fantastic on field tactics and off field personality and may i say some awesome monkey dancing.. The guy on the main gate who we bribed with Haribo on arrival (cant remember your name) and who kept us smiling the whole weekend and hope to see you in Inverness soon..
AND
to any one i may have forgotten
AND
most importantly to all you "NORTHERN MONKEYS" (including my three lieutenants, Stacey Parsons (tactical adviser), Dave "Woody" Wood (insertions adviser) and Joff Willox (motivator)) who worked there arses off against a phenomenal team of Southern fairies ran by an amazingly well prepared Southern General to bring the cup home for the North "I THANK YOU - UP THE NORTH" and till next year ...