Butts! Not buttstocks, nor ciggy butts, but men's butts! That's how our Ground Zero Weekender 2010 started when we arrived at Ringwood last 27 August 2010. We first said hello to the "H" at the registration area, and proceeded to set up camp further down the trail. It was a good day to setup, not much wind to bother you and since it was I with Masterchief and his son to cover the event this year, it was an easier time to setup with fewer mates to bother me to handover a peg here, pull the cord there, or hold down the whole tent before it gets blown away over the fence into another private property.

And yes, right after setting up our tents, the first thing that greeted us were men's behinds and strangely that's how we start our report for lacking any idea on how to get your attention and read our account of the Weekender.

Poor lads, they might have missed the auditions for "Meet the Spartans Part 2". To their credit, they made an effort to show those abs without the need for computer software. Nice touch of creativity I would say. Ground Zero Weekender gives us a surprise each year with people wearing something that would make our neighbor's cat hiss in fright. While we were expecting such to be on the second day like in the last two Weekenders. This time it's on the first day itself.

After setting up camp, we made our obligatory snap shots of the tents surrounding ours. This year, the tents have extended into what were vacant areas in the past two weekenders, indicating that this year's participation was bigger than the previous one. Luckily, the portaloos were near, but not too near, if you get what I mean. In case I get pissed at night, it won't be a long crawl for me to the nearest loo.

Taking a few snapshots of the camp area, Masterchief and I agreed to proceed to the big tent, which sits at the entrance area of the camp. Along the way, were greeted by some familiar faces, and the camp setups that always were at the same place Weekender after Weekender. Passing one area, we noticed that a player's nan tagged along, and it was a quick argument in our group if she'll play in the games in the following day... nah...she won't.

We have read about at the Zeroin Forums, that a car boot sale,minus the cars, would be held for the first time, and it's overseen by Rampage, whose goatee gets longer for each Weekender. It was interesting for us as we needed some parts and might find some items of interest at the boot sale. Not much was on sale that interested us, but there were pretty neat airsoft guns that you can get at good prices. I found a patch then checked some of the machine pistols lying around. Unfortunately for those wanting to make an offer on Rampage's Barrett M82, it wasn't for sale, over his dead body.

It was still half past 1500H, early still, as more and more people started coming in to get their tags at the registration area. Still too early for us to have a chit chat with H, so the next best thing was to check out what's for sale inside the big tent.

It was still half past 1500H, and more and more people started coming in to get their tags at the registration area. Still too early for us to have a chit chat with H, so we the next best thing was to check out what's for sale inside the big tent.

There were two things to do inside the tent. Get loaded up with beer and liquor as it has a bar, which for me is one of the best features in any camp. The other is to loadup in new airsoft guns and gear as you would be really tempted to part with your hard cash or handover your credit card inside. Most of the items inside are products by the event sponsors, and of course Zeroone Airsoft. I've been wanting to find another battery for my TM M4 SOPMOD and magazines for it. Unfortunately, they weren't available and I went for my alternative purchases, which were a mini battery and a hi-cap magazine for the TM AKS74U that I bought during my first Weekender and has served me so well. It still keeps on going and I haven't opened it yet for maintenance.

It was jampacked inside as many made purchases that they woud use in the following day. The queue was long and Masterchief and Carl, his son, were already in line and took my stuff for them to pay. Tantamount to jumping the queue, sorry for those waited longer. It was also Carl's first airsoft game, so for him, it was a big weekend.

There was still time to waste, as the first day is more about socialising and getting familiar with the camp and game areas. The sun was very much up, and this meant that we better get some pints in ourselves and find some seats to rest our feet.

After some chit chat with friends from Team Hatchet and squaddies from the nearby Salisbury Barracks who are about to be deployed again to Afghanistan, we checked the registration area, where there were few registrants. This also meant that I can be briefed by H about what's going to happen the next day. It was a long day for the staff there, but managing to give genuine smiles to our cameras. No matter how tiring it was ensuring that all registered players get their briefing papers and tags, for them it's work that they love with all the smiles of players greeting them for another year of great airsoft fun.

H was able to extricate himself from a couple of players and beckoned us to follow him inside the office where he personally prepared our team tags, which as always, The Others. While doing so, he briefed us on what to expect in the next two days, as they have planned various changes which should would make the players really busy. As for those who didn't participate in this year's event, you'll know more about this in Part II of our report.

As we surveyed the area, we saw the GZ map which was introduced last year where they monitor movements of players and groups, what their actions are, and for them to record points garnered by the groups. There were now gold bars, nuggets, ammo crates, laptops, drug packets, and other stuff that all have some corresponding points and purposes when retrieved. More stuff for players to carry, especially the enterprising ones.

By this time, the sun was going down and off we went back to our tents to cook supper and checked our airsoft guns if they would work properly for tomorrow before it gets dark and repairs would be tough to do. Like my failure to find a battery and magazine for my TM M4 SOPMOD, it wouldn't fire, and probably a problem in the stock tube where there might be some grounding with the rear-wiring. So it was back to my TM AKS74U now which seems to have its own emotions as it was bought here and used here for the past two Weekenders and it is like it's telling me that it rather be used for another year at Ground Zero, not that M4 SOPMOD. A jealous airsoft AK I presume.

With just the three of us at the camp area, it was easy to get bored. Unlike last year where the ACE Brigade guys went with us and it was a riot. We finished our meal and went back to the Big Tent to see if we can find some more familiar faces. The French players were there in the middle, already having their fill of beer. Masterchief found a Filipino airsoft player based in Norwich who dropped by to get some airsoft stuff he ordered. Driving all the way from Norwich, he was on his way to the Isle of Wight to meet some of his friends. He was also the culprit why there were no magazines left for my TM M4 SOPMOD, he scooped up the remaining stock for his own use.

Battletec from Guernsey which are always a large delegation didn't go for the The Others this year. It's always fun watching the group as they always do things together, and with a big group every year, is always like a parade whenever they go around the camp. We wondered what antics they were up to this year.

The burger van was busy by this time, feeding hungry players who find cooking a chore to be avoided, like me (but then there's Masterchief who can also be a MasterChef). Though most players were at the Big Tent were congregating at the bar and we better get our fill in case they run out of booze  It was by now getting chilly, but it was mild in comparison to the past two Weekenders we've been to. Though it rained in the past days, we hope the weather would remain dry that evening and in the following days.  Frankly, mud is always a headache for me and I hate cleaning mud off my gear. Nevertheless, I expect the worse for tomorrow, as it may just be a wet weather airsoft.

The mood was jolly, with everyone talking about what they planned for tomorrow. Everyone was excited as the shooting starts the next day at the largest airsoft event in the United Kingdom, and target rich environment for those who want to rack up scores of hits. But as H had told me early in the day, the missions would be much more fun, and players would be kept busy.

My watch showed almost 2100H and Carl was feeling cold and would like to get back to their tent. Fair `nuf, it's going to be a tiring and long Saturday so we might as well hit the sack early. Even with the noise of nearby tents and some pissed players trying to find their way back to their tents in the dark, Masterchief and I fell asleep almost immediately and had a snoring match.

• Read Part 2 of the Ground Zero Weekender 2010 After Action Report
• Read Part 3 of the Ground Zero Weekender 2010 After Action Report