FlagRaiders Winter Cup E1

Jan 162012

The Catshack Reports was on location Sunday January 15th, 2012 for the first installment of Flag Raiders Paintball Annual Winter Cup tournament series. Both Young Division and Rookie Divisions appeared to duke it out in their quest for first place

The Catshack rolled up at Flag Raiders Paintball in Kitchener ON just in time to see the most important matches determining the winner for the Young Guns Division. Event One saw four teams appear to include Penguins, Brantford Stealth, Clean Up Crew and the JD Army. The young men wasted no time getting down to business, this combined with tournament organizers running the show efficiently like clock work saw the crews race to the finish, their positions determined by 11am.

First Place - Penguins - Young Guns Division

12 teams appeared for Rookie Division and as the tournament began it was quickly clear those with the most practice and the ability to work together as a team saw it pay off. Observing the competition closely it was clear the teams were operating their bunkers intelligently using the main back 3, God and D1 positions. One of the players caught on film that particularly caught our attention would have to be young Andre Gravelle competing with the Sparta crew, a team made up of mostly members of the Niagara Aces. Andre did display some quick maneuvers, agility and marksmanship through the entirety of the tournament.Â Playing smart in the snake helped take the Sparta crew to the top four on the day. It is never a single player that takes the win, rather a team effort as team mate Ben Kanester worked the snake corner efficiently and kept the lane clear so Andre could wrap around. Most importantly the communication in a tournament is key, the Sparta crew among others really talked it up on the field.

First Place - Hate - Rookie Division

Another interesting team would have to be the “Hate” crew. Team mates Connor Staats, Cole Cameron, Cody Knight, Cole Simon and Tanner showed what a lot of hard practice and working together does. It seemed each time the crew took to the field it became cutthroat. Every time the team smelled blood they quickly closed in for the kill and ended many matches including a few in the finals with some pretty dominating bunkers. When asked who amongst them they felt really got the A for effort, the crew in its entirety quickly jumped in to say it was the team as a whole and all did the job they set out to do that got them their first place finish and the hefty cash prize. “Its all about the races”

Certainly there are more than a few of the different teams that are showing the kind of talent that will take them to the next level and rise in the ranks of contenders.

I have said it once and will say it again and again, practice, practice, practice if your serious about tournament paintball. Both the Hate and Essex teams practice almost every two weeks and have done so faithfully since the beginning of last season…. and it shows!

Placements for Young Gun Division