By 09:00 a steady trickle of players had
made their way to the site, some dropped off
by their parents while they went off Christmas
shopping for the day! I asked one lad what
he would have preferred to be doing and he
looked at me as if I had just asked him a really
dumb question (which, in hindsight, I guess it
was!).
What really struck me was the number
of players toting two-tone guns. There were
more than I have seen at any other site I
have visited, and it was not just the youngest
players carrying them – some of the older ones
did to. Jim doesn’t offer site guns, although
players could pre-book a hire gun from Action
Gamers and a couple had done so, while
others carried some of the latest gear.
The safety briefing was conducted in two
sessions, the first for everyone before all
new players were taken through to the site
to be given a demonstration on how pyros
are used and the rules surrounding them
(which I thought was a really good idea).
Safety briefing over, the teams were sorted
and everyone made their way out for the first
game – a straightforward attack-and-defend
warm-up on an area called Hill 60. I’ve got
to say I was impressed by the way some of
the new players took to the game, showing
great enthusiasm and calling ‘Hit’ without
hesitation.
“One of the most bizarre sights
I have ever seen during a game
of airsoft has to be a full-size
mannequin dressed up as Santa,
being carried through a forest
on a stretcher by five camo-clad,
gun-wielding, red-hat wearing
guys, to the accompaniment of
jingling Christmas bells!”
Hill 60 was quickly followed by a missionbased assault on the Fuel Dump, with
the objective to signify its destruction by
locating and detonating a couple of Mk5
thunderflashes. The Fuel Dump is an area
built with fuel drums, complemented with
man-made and natural defences plus a
number of derelict cars. Jim has taken a
great deal of care to ensure all the areas on
the site make for good gameplay and the
Fuel Dump is no exception. As it’s almost
completely open on one side it didn’t take the
attacking team long to realise they had a clear
field of fire straight into the defenders, and it
was only with a huge effort that they hung on
until time ran out.
With the game reversed it was time for
the other team to experience what it is like to
be hit from all sides at the same time. Yours
074
February 2012
truly was also in the middle of it and I can tell
you firsthand that it was almost impossible
to find any cover that protected you from the
onslaught! It didn’t take too long before the
defenders had been cleared and two loud
bangs signalled that both objectives had been
achieved.
A couple more games followed before an
hour-long break for lunch at 13:00. The main
reception area also contains a full kitchen
(awarded five stars by the local council),
serving freshly-cooked food as well as hot
and cold drinks. Very welcome on a chilly day
in December – as were the hot mince pies
dished out by the marshals!
With lunch over, players were called
together for a briefing on the afternoon’s
game: Operation Jingle Bells (well, it was
nearly Ch ristmas after all!).