(Where's the photos? - Sorry guys, it was literally raining so much that I didn't dare take the camera out of the bag, and to be honest the rest of the gang were feeling a bit too miserable to pose!)

Despite the atrocious weather conditions - heavy rain which was forecast to persist all day - I was quite looking forward to my first visit to this airsoft site near Matlock. I had trawled through their photo gallery and liked very much what I had seen, and their web site seemed to tick all the boxes by way of giving the impression of a well organized and experienced field management.

As usual, actually finding the site proved a little tricky, and we drove past the entrance to it and had to backtrack and gamble that an anonymous looking farm track was actually the site access! It's a growing impression of mine that anyone associated with running an airsoft site is bereft of the skill of good signage! (Laughingly, the one directional sign marking the entrance was a small arrow pinned to a post, but this was being blown around and around in the wind like a Catherine wheel - where it was supposed to be pointing was anyone's guess!)

First impressions
The track from the main road to the site area itself was a rocky and bumpy 'cow track', and our overloaded car scrapped and scratched itself all the way down a windy and narrow path. Finally reaching the base area was a relief in two ways, ending as it did our rattling drive, but also we were very pleased to see that quite a few other dogged airsofters had braved the weather and there were a good number of cars already parked up.

The safe zone/base was a small circular opening in the otherwise densely wooded surrounds. The first thing we noticed was the apparent absence of any site facilities whatsoever, the 'HQ' comprising of two small canvas tents! Players were huddled - quite pathetically - under these shelters as the wind and rain buffeted them from all sides. One small garden gazebo tent acted as the 'mess hall', with a single wooden bench for all to share, while the larger canvas shelter was the 'office', come shop, come field kitchen!

Briefing and organization
To me, the initial briefing sets the tone for the rest of the day, and my 'spidey senses' started tingling right away when a very softly spoken chap skipped through what must have been one of the shortest safety briefs that I have ever witnessed, while players at the edge of the huddle continued their chatting! I realized then that I had been somewhat 'spoilt' with the two site managers that I had experience of so far. Both Shaun of South Yorkshire Airsoft and Razor of NSC are 'mouthy' characters (no offence guys, it's meant with love!) and they do not stand for anyone who does not pay strict attention to the mandatory pre-game lecture.

Please remember that we are talking about a 'safety briefing' - I am not being petty when I emphasise this failing at 'First & Only'. I realize that there were probably a lot of regulars and that 'informal' is probably the site 'style', but with so many very young players there on the day I personally don't think there is any room for compromise when it comes to this aspect of the game.

The 'mission' briefing was likewise 'short and sweet', though the backstory was interesting enough. Today we were to play out an imaginary clash between the forces of North and South Korea - very topical.

If you go down to the woods today, You're sure of a big surprise.
So, off we tramped into the woods, two straggly lines of soggy airsofters making our ways to our respective regen points. Already the ground was getting soft and muddy, and even through the closely packed trees we could feel the rain hammering down in ever increasing torrents.

We were split into an attacking and defending forces and pointed in the direction of the opposition and summarily told to 'go get 'em'.

And thus the mayhem began...

Woods are terrific things. Good woodland can give the impression you are almost anywhere - from the jungles of Vietnam to the forests of Eastern Europe, and in this 'First & Only' Matlock did not disappoint. Their woodland is as lush as I have ever seen and it was big - very big, in fact here is where the problems started.

There were two issues that plagued my friends and I, our lack of knowledge of the site and it's layout, and the rather disorientating effect of flat terrain and tightly packed trees. There was little natural variation to the actual land at Matlock - no hillocks or depressions - and all the trees as far as the eyes could see in one direction looked pretty much exactly like all the trees in another direction!

Were you to loose contact with the battle, as you do if you try a wide flanking manoeuvre, or you have to return to regen, then you had a real problem relocating the battle again. Particularly if they fire fight has moved on from where it was when you were last involved.

Soon the woods seemed empty, and you found yourself stumbling around in thick undergrowth looking for your team mates. Stopping and listening for the distinct noise of AEG fire was very much hampered in this case by the racket of torrential rain as it clattered down on the canopy above you, and when you did come across another member of your team your query about 'which way to the front' was inevitably met with a confused shrug!

The whole situation started to become farcical - at least in my case - when I accidentally found myself in the opposing team's regen area by mistake, having wandered in completely the wrong direction looking for my own regen. I was shot from all sides, repeatedly, as I tried to make my way back out again!

A silver lining?
Not everything was bad news. When I did manage to make contact with the enemy I was very pleased with the performance of my Kalash AK74. On the occasions I could get a clear shot through the maze of trees my AEG shot far and with accuracy (and I haven't even installed the new Prometheus barrel yet). Though the price of this was the additional weight I had to lugg about, and I did at times envy my team mates who mostly went for shorter, lighter AKs.

On one particular occasion I had a wonderful experience where the trees just seemed to open up before me and there, in the distance, was an enemy player framed perfectly through windows of branches. I took aim and let loose a stream of BBs and covered his side and back. At first he did that 'you didn't really see me' freeze that some players try on - but I knew I had plastered him. However, luck was on my side for once and standing right behind him was a Marshal whom I assume (I couldn't hear what was said) politely and gently asked my target if he was going to 'take the hit'!

I do find that it's the younger players who try on this ruse. You hit them and they become frightened rabbits in headlights - one can only assume that what is going through their mind is 'if I don't acknowledge he hit me he might think he missed'. Unfortunately, this ploy is exactly what leads to over-kill and magging - where, through frustration, you hose your target with superfluous BBs in order to emphasise the hit.

Of all things, your AEG performing correctly is a key aspect to any skirmish outing. At least this element didn't disappoint - despite being soaked through, dropped and muddied. I actually had to scrape out mulched leaves and mud from the muzzle after one comical fall, but the beast still went on serving BBs quite happily.

In summary
There was a few good things that came out of the day, principally the team spirit of Team AKA. I was very proud of my mates who came through the day's experience with a very mature and very philosophical attitude to the event. Summed up it went 'if you don't try these these things you don't know'. Other satisfying aspects of the day were my Russian wet weather suit - which was greatly appreciated - and my HotCan self-heating meal pack. Both served to make the unseasonably cold and wet day more bearable.

However, 'First and Only' Matlock was not for us. We had all picked up on the subtle little quirks of the site and it's foibles just didn't sit right with the communal team ethos about airsoft and what makes a good skirmish. But, to be fair, we were not the only ones who were critical of the failings on that day, and the attitude of a few can be summed up by the frustration of one player who commented: 'I've come to shoot people, and NOT for a stroll in the woods!'.

Whether due to the horrible weather, or the disjointed game play, or both, some players decided to vote with their feet and left during the lunch break. Reluctantly, Team AKA decided to do the same (the reduced numbers making it even less likely that you could find a 'needle in a hay stack').

I don't like giving any site a panning. I hugely respect any person or group of people who decide to put all the effort into making a site and running it. But at the end of the day running an airsoft site is a business and if it doesn't provide the service you expect then you just go elsewhere. As my team mate Dewey said, this would be the 'First and Only' time for us at this site.

'First & Only' Matlock woodland site - assessment:-

The negative

> Non-existent facilities
> No map of the play area and it's landmarks
> Skant and under-stated safety briefing
> NO CHRONOGRAPHING
> Too far ranging play area under the circumstance
> Games were too long
> 'Suprise' floating regen areas
> Devoid of navigation way points

The positive

> Lovely natural woodland (thickest I have seen)
> I particularly liked the clumps of thick ferns (sniper heaven)
> Site did offer a 'meal deal' with a burger and canned drink
> Very friendly staff

Personal positives

> Team spirit really has come together
> My Kalash AK74 performed faultlessly and accurately
> My Russian wet weather over suit was a blessing
> I think I have finally cracked the fine art of packing (didn't forget anything)
> My HotCan self heating meal was fantastic

Personal negatives

> Still don't have a 'fogless' googles for heavy rain days
> Had to revert to borrowed mesh goggles
> Still not happy with my boots - still uncomfortable
> The Team needs to sort out a comms system as a priority


'First & Only' Matlock - Site rating:

Facilities:
Organization:
Game scenarios:
Marshaling: *
Safety: *
Site builds (bunkers, etc):
Friendliness:

* Marshalling and safety were both marked down as there was no chronographing

Related links:

> 'First & Only' web site - Matlock woodland section
> 'First & Only' Matlock photo gallery