They Came, They Shot, & They Had Real Fun At The Dutch Open 2015

OptimusPrime

28 Nov 2015

Ever since airsoft became legal in the Netherlands on the 1st of January 2013, the Dutch airsoft community, with the NABV (Nederlandse Airsoft Belangen Vereniging or the Dutch Airsoft Association) leading the way, went on to quickly to establish airsoft as a viable and thriving sport in the country. Many airsoft skirmish ("skirm") sites appeared and dotted the country from north to south, more shops catering the airsoft players opened, and airsoft teams got themselves organised.

From weekend airsoft skirmishes to milsim, various airsoft disciplines blossomed, including a highly competitive form of airsoft that takes inspiration real steel practical shooting --- airsoft practical shooting. Now established in several countries in Europe, airsoft practical shooting is the most well-developed competitive sport in airsoft, with clear cut rules, divisions, and levels, many airsoft players are now taking up this sport. In the Netherlands, the NABV has the International Airsoft Practical Shooting group dedicated to promoting the discipline. With such a development, it is all but logical for the Dutch airsoft practical shooters to host their first Dutch Open International Airsoft Practical Shooting event with Action Sport Games being the main sponsor of the event.

Modest with a target of 80 shooters coming from neighbouring European countries, the event took place last 21-22 November at the National Sports Centre Papendal, located in Arnhem. An excellent location for sporting events, the Sports Centre is an official training centre for elite athletes, including olympians and paralympians, since the 1970s.

The shooting venue itself is one of the best I've seen. I've been to a good number of airsoft practical shooting events, whether outdoor or indoor events, but so far this is the best indoor shooting venue that was setup for airsoft practical shooting. Even with the temperature outside at single digits, it was warm inside, allowing us to shed off our winter clothing and for the shooters into more comfortable shooting attire. The 4-Star Papendal Sports Hotel was able to accommodate all visiting shooters and the centre has everything to offer for the NABV's IAPS to pull off a successful event.

The NABV's organisation and preparation for the event was superb and if there were hiccups in the preparations, most didn't notice. More than adequate staff support was in place and everything went according to plan.

The Dutch Open 2015 is comprised of 18 stages, whilst originally divided into 9 stages per day, the first day had more stages completed. Shooters were able to zeroin or test their airsoft pistols at the designated test area which is high-tech enough with self-standing poppers and the daVinci Dynamics WiFi Airsoft Precision Target. By around 0930H, all the shooters were briefed on the rules and procedures for the tournament by Bart Verwijst, the Chief RO. The squads went through the first stages slowly, warming until they became more comfortable and began to unleash their shooting skills as they try to best the times of their fellow competitors

There were difficult stages wherein it took creativity apart from agility to go through such stages at the best time possible. Airsoft practical shooters also have to be fit as they will be running and going through obstacles in 18 stages for two days.

Given the excellent facilities, including lighting, the shooters were able to complete as many stages as they can in the first day.

By the first day's conclusion at 1830H, most of the shooting squads were able to accomplish over 10 stages. They could have continued on, but then there is still a second day that which the remaining stages can be accomplished. At 2000H everyone was treated a buffet dinner hosted by the NABV at the Papendal Hotel Sports Bar where we all helped ourselves to warm and delicious food. The first day of course didn't end with the buffet dinner as we moved on the Sports Bar to fill ourselves up with beer and whatever liquor to keep us warm before calling it a night.

The second day saw all the shooters starting at 0900H, and as mentioned previously, just several more stages left for the all the squads to go through with a lot of time to spare. One Course of Fire/COF which I always chuckle seeing the shooters carry an inflatable crocodile as they move from one part of the COF to another. As Chief RO Bart Verwijst said, "I love the pics with grown up men running around with a plastic Crocodile....priceless. I think nobody would believe me if I told them I could make 75 men running around with a croc." But of course, these grown up men would rather carry another type of inflatable, if Danny Yau of RedWolf Airsoft UK and also a shooter at the event, had his way.

The second day also meant that all shooters had to do their best to get the best times and scores to move higher to the leaderboard and with that the possibility of coming home with the trophy. By around 1500H, all the squads were done with all the stages and it all that remained was for them to wait for the results as the ROs submitted their final results and have all the forms computed to find out who came out on top.

The Awarding Ceremonies was a very much straightforward affair, as the organisers are conscious of the need for the shooters to get on their way back home, especially for those who are will be driving back home as it was already getting dark and snowing outside. Not much speeches, and rather a mark of Dutch efficiency, the raffle prizes were given away and finally, the winners of the Dutch Open 2015 were announced.

There is much to praise the NABV for the Dutch Open 2015, preparations went well, the facilities were excellent, accommodations within walking distance, and everything was well provided for. I would recommend to those organising airsoft practical shooting events to learn from what the NABV. 80 shooters, is a modest number, but then it is the first time for them to organise the an international airsoft practical shooting event, and they pulled it off with flying colours.

Learning from the first Dutch Open, I bet the NABV will be "gunning" for a bigger event next year and we recommend to the European airsoft practical shooters, and even the other airsoft practical shooters outside of Europe, especially those from Asia, to take put this tournament as one of their "must attend" events for their next year's game calendar.

Congratulations to all the winners of the Dutch Open International Airsoft Practical Shooting 2015, as well as the organisers of the event, the NABV. See you all again next year for another and much bigger Dutch Open.

Photos of the Dutch Open are now online at the Popular Airsoft Facebook Page. Videos will follow and posted at the Popular Airsoft YouTube Channel.

Below are the final results of tournament:

Nederlands kampioenschap Open Divisie: