Editing 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 [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|New Zealand National Paintball League]], which began competition in 1997.[1][2]

== Paintball career ==

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 ==

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 ==

A history published by Mercenaries Star credits Pellet and [[Ian Southern]], associated with [[Splatman]], with originating the [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)|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 ==

In his 1990s profile, Pellet identified the “Spider” as his preferred marker on price and WGP variants on performance.[1]

== See also ==

* [[Tactics Paintball]]
* [[Splatman]]
* [[National Paintball League (New Zealand)]]
* [[Ian Southern]]
* [[Steve Constable]]

== References ==

# [https://web.archive.org/web/19980204164230/http://www.webel.co.nz/whpellet.htm Dave Pellet — Who’s Who profile]. ''New Zealand Paintball'', archived 4 February 1998.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLIntro.htm The Rise and Fall of the New Zealand National Paintball League]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Scenarios/BRev.htm Revolution in Bethels Republic: Guidelines for a Recball Series]. ''Mercenaries Star''.
# [https://paintballhistory.com/steve-constable-and-early-new-zealand-paintball-history/ Steve Constable and Pursuit Supplies International c.1985–1988]. Daniel Bacci, ''Paintball History'', 9 January 2015.
# [https://www.oocities.org/mercstar_nz/Rules/Leagues/NPLLetter.htm Welcome to the New Zealand National Paintball League]. Ian Southern, New Zealand NPL Director, 1997; preserved by ''Mercenaries Star''.

== External links ==

* [https://web.archive.org/web/19980204164230/http://www.webel.co.nz/whpellet.htm Archived Dave Pellet profile]

[[Category:New Zealand paintball people]]
[[Category:New Zealand paintball history]]
[[Category:Paintball field operators]]
[[Category:Paintball tournament organisers]]
[[Category:Paintball in Auckland]]