FEARLESS paintballing ace Phil Southgate is raring to represent Great Britain veterans in an international tournament - and says “bring it on".

The hard-hitting 41-year-old is jet-setting to Saint Tropez today ahead of tomorrow's European championships for the over 40s.

Playing as a snake runner, which is a position that requires speed and agility, he will take on the likes of the Netherlands, Germany, France and Poland.

Southgate, nicknamed Toothless Weasel by his teammates, will be tackling Europe’s finest with his beastly £1,400 gun.

He said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to represent my country.

“It’s like anything, if you have the love and passion for the sport it’s worth doing.

“Balls come thick and fast at you and you need to have the right mindset so the pain goes out of the window. Bring it on."

The owner of graphic design company Tintinit, just off the A30, was influenced by his brother, Rich Southgate, to return to paintballing four years ago after retiring in 2000.

Since his revival to the radical sport, which is one of the fastest in the world, with games potentially being finished in a remarkable eight seconds, he has been playing for Salisbury Cardinals.

They compete in championships across the country and are rapidly growing.

Southgate added: “We don’t train or practise, we just turn up.

“We have some of the best players in the country playing for us.

“There’s no politics involved in paintballing - we know how we play and communication is key."

“I’d rather go paintballing than drinking.”

Each team has five players and once a person is hit, they are out. The team which is first to eliminate all members of the opposition wins. There are normally eight marshals per field.