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May, 1981 The idea is formed and the Challenge is issued. A group of friends of mixed backgrounds
decides to determine who has the best hunter/killer instincts. The group includes Charles Gaines, an
author, Hayes Noel, a stockbroker, and Bob Gurnsey, a sporting goods retailer.
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June 27, 1981 The first game is played in Henniker, New Hampshire. Format is a multiple flag capture.
Ritchie White, a Forester by trade wins the game without ever firing a shot. 12 players participated.
They are, in alphabetical order: Lionel Atwill, Ken Barrett, Bob Carlson, Joe Drindon, Charles Gaines,
Jerome Gary, Bob Gurnsey, Bob Jones, Hayes Noel, Carl Sandquist, Ronnie Simkins, and Ritchie White.
Ken Barrett surrendered, becoming the first player in the history of the sport to be eliminated.
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April, 1982 Caleb Strong opens the first outdoor field in Rochester, N.Y.
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1982 National Survival Game (NSG) formed by Charles Gaines and Bob Gurnsey.
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1982 PMI, Pursuit Marketing Incorporated is formed to market paintball.
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1983 First NSG Championships. $14,000 cash purse. Toronto Canada outdoor field opens.
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1983 C.B.S.' '60 Minutes' airs a brief story on paintball- Nationwide interest erupts.
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1983 Lionel Atwill writes 'The Survival Game Manual' It becomes the sport's first publication.
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1984 NSG begins marketing the Splatmaster. Suddenly paintball is a bit more affordable. I purchased
my first paintball gun.
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1984 Australian paintball field opens under the name of Skirmish Games.
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November, 1984 Caleb Strong opens first Indoor paintball field in Buffalo, N.Y.
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1985 First field opens in England.
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1986 Worr Game Products, WGP formed by Bud Orr. Bud Orr played his first game in 1986 and began building
Snipers in his garage later that year.
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1987 Component Concepts, makers of the Phantom, opens their doors.
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1987 I play my first 'real' game of paintball, eight players participating. We begin hosting our
own games. First field opens locally- 'Big Blue'.
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1988 IPPA (International Paintball Players Association) Formed.
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1988 I played my first tournament in St. Louis, MO. 2 man format. We made the finals but could
not stay for the next day's play. Line SI Bushmasters dominate the game. My new JT Thermal Lenses perform
flawlessly. My partner fogs up all day, costing us a couple of games. Jessica Sparks is in attendance.
Team patches were the rage. IPPA patches also present. The elite wore Tiger Stripe Camoflage. Purchased
my bulk tank and fill station for $60 that day.
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This Document under construction, please excuse the mess.
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