Dave Pellet
Dave Pellet is a New Zealand paintball field operator and tournament organiser associated with Tactics Paintball in Auckland. Together with Ian Southern, he was credited with conceiving the original New Zealand National Paintball League, which began competition in 1997.[1][2]
Paintball career
[edit]In his profile preserved in February 1998, Pellet stated that he had been involved in paintball since 1985, after being introduced to the activity through personal contact with Steve Constable. The profile identified him as the owner and operator of Tactics Paintball and an organiser of major paintball events.[1]
Pellet described providing paintball activities for New Zealand players as his principal achievement. He advocated expanding commercial paintball through varied, reasonably priced games and supporting its development as a national recreational sport.[1]
Tactics Paintball
[edit]Pellet operated Tactics Paintball at Bethells Beach in west Auckland. A historical account published by Mercenaries Star describes the venue as a large area of native scrub on either side of a ridge, with staging and safe areas on the higher ground.[1][3]
The field hosted the recreational scenario series Revolution in Bethels Republic, which combined successive games into a continuing campaign. The series was intended to introduce newer participants to regular players and provide alternatives to conventional capture-the-flag games.[3]
Grant Fraser, a former Tactics employee, preserved photographs of early paintball equipment at the field. A photograph reproduced by Daniel Bacci in 2015 and tentatively dated to approximately 1987–1988 shows several markers associated with Pursuit Supplies International.[4]
Pellet also appeared in the December 1990 issue of Paintball Sports Magazine, in a photograph showing him working on a PSI 1200/Yellow Jacket marker. Bacci reproduced the photograph in his research into Steve Constable and early New Zealand paintball equipment.[4]
National Paintball League
[edit]A history published by Mercenaries Star credits Pellet and Ian Southern, associated with Splatman, with originating the National Paintball League. The league began in 1997, with Splatman recorded as operating four Auckland fields among its participating venues.[2]
The NPL sought to coordinate tournaments, improve refereeing and encourage a more consistent standard of competition. Southern was identified as the league’s director for 1997 in its introductory letter.[5]
The competition combined established major tournaments in First Division with regular Second Division games for developing teams. Its original operator-supported structure continued until 1999, when it lost the support of participating field operators. Kyn Jackson subsequently assumed responsibility for the remaining administration and discontinued Second Division.[2]
Equipment preferences
[edit]In his 1990s profile, Pellet identified the “Spider” as his preferred marker on price and WGP variants on performance.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Dave Pellet — Who’s Who profile. New Zealand Paintball, archived 4 February 1998.
- The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand National Paintball League. Mercenaries Star.
- Revolution in Bethels Republic: Guidelines for a Recball Series. Mercenaries Star.
- Steve Constable and Pursuit Supplies International c.1985–1988. Daniel Bacci, Paintball History, 9 January 2015.
- Welcome to the New Zealand National Paintball League. Ian Southern, New Zealand NPL Director, 1997; preserved by Mercenaries Star.