FROM GAINSBOROUGH, THE 6ISC!
This robot's reputation most definitely precedes it, with the latest incarnation of the 'barbell of doom' looking as dangerous as ever. The robot's namesake spins at 2500rpm and is carved from a single block of metal for maximum durability, and it's designed to be unflippable with six triangularly-arranged wheels allowing it to be driven any way up. Oh Frank, what have you done?
FROM HOLLAND, BACK TO ROCK III!
The faster in this battle, this machine is designed for power and control, with six Lynch motor driven wheels and an electric lifter - and as if that wasn't enough, it's got a diamond edged sawblade in the middle of the lifter to pin an opponent on the wedge and do damage. The lifter runs off a unique rack-and-pinion mechanism that gives good lifting force, and titanium armour should give good protection.
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Martijn Benschop
Booth 2, right hand side: Frank Goacher
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And so the war has broken out. The 6isc turns away from the wall as it begins to spin up, as Back To Rock gets the quicker start, charging out towards its foe, and turns around the flame pit to try and line up its charge. The flames flicker as The 6isc moves away, but Back To Rock is on top of it very fast, and hits the axle with the front plate, the saw creating bright sparks against the Ti, but The 6isc turns ,and lines up a disc hit straight into BTR's side!
CRASH! Both machines go flying, The 6isc 's left wheels bouncing back onto the arena floor a distance back, but Back To Rock is sporting a nice straight tear in the titanium armour, and the skirt hinge appears to have buckled from the impact, as the rear two thirds of it is splayed out at a worrying angle. It's alright internally though, it would seem, as it comes back around for another attack, trying to get there before The 6isc can fully recover, and hits its opponent straight on with lifter partially raised!
CRASH! And amidst the sparks, something goes flying - the saw! And the rest of Back To Rock didn't like that very much either, as the slot for the saw in the lifter has been buckled upwards by the force of the disc...it did its job though, as The 6isc is stuck on the arena wall! The spike on the wheel guard has caught and taken the robot's right side drive off the ground, and Frank is holding his controls in the air trying to move the other side enough to get it down, and for good reason, as Back To Rock is about to change the situation for the worse. The lifter now reset, it comes in and positions itself to lift the right side of the axlebot up into the air...does so, maneuvers slightly to get it in line with the pit...but appears to have moved too much, the six wheel drive not allowing precision turns as much as it could, and The 6isc has slipped off the front prong, and hits the exposed gap under the lifter with the weapon!
CRASH! Back To Rock bounces away, lands on its wheels but sporting a dent in its lifter support, and backs off slightly...there is a moment's pause, almost as if they are thinking of what to do next, as while Back To Rock isn't looking good at the moment, all this action is rather too close to the pit for The 6isc's liking...they stare through the smoke for a moment, and then almost simultaneously charge!
CRASH! And Back To Rock goes- wait, The 6isc's wheels are on the edge of the pit! One of the three wheels on the right is stuck just over the side, and a movement could unbalance it and send it to taste tyre...it may not matter, though, as Back To Rock has landed upside down near the wall. Martijn is pulling on the switch, but the bar driving the lifter merely moves back and forth along the metal...he shakes his head, it looks like the rack mechanism was damaged by The 6isc in that second-to-last hit, and Martijn shakes his head as he retracts the aerial on his transmitter, his machine doesn't look like it will be self righting, and Frank just stares at the situation, thankful that The 6isc didn't move an inch further than it did.
CEASE
It was close, and Back To Rock put up a good fight, but the winner is Frank Goacher and The 6isc!
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FROM TORONTO, IN CANADA, MACDUFF THE SECOND!
Heavier by ten kilos and slightly the faster, this is a pure rammer driven from tank tracks and Lynch motors giving it virtually unstoppable power and traction, with side skirts to protect them and make it less vulnerable to flippers, and the Hardox 750 and Lexan armoured is built to withstand the most damaging weapons around today. It can run either way up and has interchangable front weaponry, of which Kody has gone for the front skirt.
FROM ENGLAND, RUPTURE!
A very compact and durable robot this, with lightning acceleration and alloy skirts all around that make it extremely difficult to get under from all sides. The wide electric lifting arm is reliable, quick and can self right the robot, and its design may have been influenced by nuclear fallout shelters - it's constructed from a Hardox monocoque and has compact electrics and batteries, so it should be able to withstand anything and keep on going.
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Kody Kunz
Booth 2, right hand side: Andrew Jackson
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The battle gets off to a very fast start, both robots going straight at each other, but then Rupture turns to try and get in on the corner of Macduff - bad move, as Macduff slams into the side of Rupture, rising off the ground slightly but pushing it back towards the wall, and hitting it straight into the angle grinder as the sparks fly. Macduff backs away, coming back around for another ram, but Rupture is there already and manages to get alongside it...there is a slow dance as the robots move around, side by side, looking for an advantage...and it's Rupture's advantage this time, as the lifter gets underneath the skirt of Macduff, and raises!
Macduff crashes over unharmed, but almost immediately finds itself on Rupture's arm again...it rolls over, the right way up, but finds itself caught on the wall! The tracks roll trying to get some grip, but the corner of the robot prevents the right hand one from getting any hold on the arena floor, and Kody is looking worried as Rupture comes around again, and raises the arm, trying to get its opponent out of the warzone...Macduff's front wedge is caught on the lifter, though, and no real progress is being made by either of these machines, indeed it would seem Macduff is just being held in the air. Andrew finally releases, both robots moving a bit as Macduff comes off the wall and turns to face Rupture. Rupture charges straight on, looking to get the advantage...it gets the lifter underneath the front skirt! And lifts...the skirt up in the air! It falls off the end of the lifter and returns to its proper place on Macduff's body, and now it has become a head on pushing match, tyres and treads are squealing...and Rupture is being pushed back by the Vulkalon tracks of its foe, slowly but surely, the squealing of the tyres audible by everyone. Macduff is winning this, it appears to be turning its foe towards the pit, as Rupture's struggling intensifies...there is a lot of tyre smoke...and suddenly MacDuff is going a lot faster, and there is no obvious resistance...it's not just tyre smoke! Rupture has blown something, and Andrew hangs his head as his machine just falls off the wedge of MacDuff and into the warm embrace of the arena pit.
CEASE
It looked even, but the winner is Kody Kunz and Macduff The Second!
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FROM MABLETHORPE, ENVY!
Very simple, yet powerful, thoroughly menacing and not the sort of thing you'd want to meet in a dark alley at 3AM - and that's just Shane.
Allegedly built in the depths of Mount Doom, this machine has a powerful front hinged pneumatic flipper, Hardox and aluminium bodywork and a very reliable Magmotor drive that won't let it down. It can self right, has a gyro for maximum control and is allegedly real and living on a beach somewhere.
FROM GEDDINGTON, DARKESTAR!
A very complex design, Darkestar sports a triangular vertical spinning weapon mounted on a freely rotating frame to allow it to function inverted, dual-layer titanium tracks with an unbreakable interlock mechanism and composite armour protecting the independent drive modules. It runs off 36v batteries driving the tracks and the weapon, which rotates at a respectable 1500rpm.
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Shane Swan
Booth 2, right hand side: Alex Holt
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Envy makes the first move, as it comes out towards the centre of the arena. Darkestar drives forward with its weapon beginning to spin up, but Envy has moved already, and is coming round the side of Darkestar, which turns into its foe, who comes around again as they appear to be circling each other in some sort of dance. Envy backs away, Darkestar turning around to face it, but it's already gone in, and is round the back of Darkestar, wedging underneath!
FLIP! Darkestar's flywheel hits the floor, bringing it to a halt and flicking the 110kg robot quite some way across the arena floor. Envy drives across again, trying to reach it before the weapon can spin up, but Darkestar tries to turn away, and rides its track up on the flipper...it drives over the top harmlessly though, before it can be thrown again. Envy tries to get out of the corner to line up another attack, but Darkestar turns, and catches the corner of it with the blade, messing up the paintwork a bit. Envy is away, turns to come back on the attack and face up with Darkestar, and the two robots charge at each other!
CRASH! And amidst the sparks, Darkestar is flipped again - it's still facing Envy though, and its weapon has left a nasty looking dent in the flipper. Envy charges again, before Darkestar can spin up, but misjudges and rides up on the weapon support prongs, and now Darkestar pushes it across the arena, slamming it into the arena wall. Envy bounces a bit and lands near the corner, and Darkestar comes in as it tries to get away, and...
CRASH! Envy flies over on to its back, but almost immediately the flipper fires and it lands on its wheels - the left hand side of it is looking a bit battered now though. Darkestar comes in for another attack, but Envy is there first, driving underneath the track module and FLIP! Darkestar is over again, and tries to turn to get its weapon in, as Envy charges it straight on...and goes straight underneath the weapon support! One of the prongs on it is looking rather bent, and that allowed Envy to get in underneath, and...
FLIP! Envy snorts C02 again, as Darkestar jumps backwards and lands precariously near the pit! Shane spots the opportunity, and Envy charges...hits...and just pushes Darkestar to one side...and so nearly drives in itself! It reverses, just missing Darkestar's weapon as it turns back on the attack, and goes in again, getting well underneath Darkestar's right side and flipping!
FLIP! Darkestar is thrown almost into the air, lands on its side, and crashes back down. Envy is now attempting to get around the side of it, but Darkestar is having none of it this time...Alex holds his controls out in front of him as he turns straight into the oncoming wedge, and backs up slightly before charging itself!
CRASH! And both robots go flying! Envy lands right side up, but now sporting some more damage in its flipper, while Darkestar has been flipped yet again, and is trying to spin up...but is having problems! The spike on the weapon frame looks slightly split from the main support, and is scraping against the flywheel as it spins. Darkestar tries to ram Envy yet again, and manages to keep the side of Envy away with the frame, gently guiding Envy's charge over the flame pit, which flares but has no visible effect. Envy gets free from the spike, and drives away for another attack, closely followed by Darkestar trying to ram it, both robots starting to look somewhat sluggish by now. Envy manages to wedge under Darkestar's front, but fires the flipper too early and it just pushes Darkestar away. Darkestar moves back and turns, getting round the side of Envy as it comes in, trying to push it with the spikes - the flywheel is still going, but not as fast as before. Darkestar does manage to pin Envy up against the wall, though, and scrapes the side with the weapon a bit, but Envy reverses out and comes in on Darkestar's track module again...the clock is beginning to tick down, it will most probably go to the judges, and Envy goes in under the track, firing the flipper, but it only lifts the side up, leaving Darkestar splayed with track in the air and the rest of the robot on the floor to one side. Alex tries to get Darkestar free, as the seconds slip away, but can only push Envy in a circle, until the flipper retracts and it can get traction again.
CEASE
Darkestar drives off the top of Envy, Alex looking somewhat relieved it is over, while Shane stares at the scene in front of him. It's been a long and at times exciting fight, and it will be a judges' decision as to who goes through, ranked on style, control, aggression and damage.
JUDGES' DECISION
DAMAGE (1-5 X 4): Darkestar caused more bodywork damage to Envy, but did have problems with its weapon caused by Envy's flipping: Envy 2 (X 4=8) Darkestar 3 (X 4=12)
AGGRESSION (1-5 X 3): Both were almost equally aggressive, but Envy had more sustained aggression: Envy 3 (X 3=9) Darkestar 2 (X 3=6)
CONTROL (1-5 x 2): Darkestar did a lot of shoving, but Envy got underneath more and didn't let up, probably winning narrowly: Envy 3 (X 2=6) Darkestar 2 (X 2=4)
STYLE (1-5): Again very close, Darkestar's weapon was good when it was involved, but Envy did some spectacular throwing and a self right, probably Envy wins: Envy 3, Darkestar 2
Envy: 26
Darkestar: 24
It was a very close and even match, but the winner is Shane Swan and Envy!
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FROM KILKIVAN, IN AUSTRALIA, RESONANCE!
Not dissimilar to The 6isc in design, this machine has an axlebot layout with a very large drum weapon, constructed from 5mm Hardox and driven to 3000rpm by a Lynch motor that deals some serous damage, and an innovative wheel pod design on either side featuring torsion sprung wedges to reduce ground clearance and protect the six wheels, which enable it to run any way up and reach a top speed of 14 miles an hour.
FROM ORPINGTON, TRI-TAINIUM!
A compact design that runs upside down, this robot has 18 horsepower to the wheels to ram opponents into submission, but with its three-part drum weapon weighing 27kgs, rotating at 3600rpm to transmit 165kj of force, Paul'll be hoping he doesn't need to ram. It has titanium and Hardox armour for protection, a front scoop to get under opponents and is slightly the faster in this fight at 18mph.
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Aaron Knight
Booth 2, right hand side: Paul Cuomo
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There is a brief pause as both machines start spinning, before Resonance makes the first move, coming away from the pit to its left and trying to line up an attack on Tri-Tainium, meanwhile its adversary has turned towards it, both weapons at frightening speed, as they move around relatively slowly. Trying to line up a clear shot, Tri-Tainium moves in closer, heading for the side panel, but Resonance moves slightly, and its wedge goes underneath the ground clearance on Tri-Tainium, and the drum comes in...
CRASH! And Tri-Tainium is flipped up and over by the force of the hit, looking slightly dented on its right side panels...Aaron can see what he needs to do here, and moves in again...Tri-Tainium tries to turn into the weapon...
CRASH! And Tri-Tainium is up and over again! One of the discs on the front of the robot is skewed slightly, and doesn't appear to be spinning any more! Tri-Tainium wisely changes tactics, as it moves away over the flame pit, turning around in an arc to try and get an angle for a proper hit on Resonance, which is trying to stop that from happening, keeping its drum pointed at Tri-Tainium's weapon at all times...there is some sort of slow, spiralling dance going on, Resonance turning, Tri-Tainium moving ever closer, trying to get around the sides...Resonance tries to break the deadlock, suddenly darting and going straight at Tri-Tainium, but it makes a mistake...the wheels are now almost on Tri-Tainium's scoop, and Paul seizes his chance!
CRASH! What happened there? Tri-Tainium is on its back again, the front scoop bent at one side, but what has happened to Resonance? The wedgelet on the top right side is missing, and the wheels on that corner appear to be bent in towards the guards - only one of them is moving properly! That doesn't affect its mobility though, as it turns to come in on the attack, Tri-Tainium trying to get some sort of run-up, but they charge towards each other!
CRASH! And there goes the disc! One of the discs on Tri-Tainium has just flown away from the impact, and the front scoop is looking rather sorry now, but Resonance hasn't got away that easily - the drum is moving noticably slower and another one of the right side wedges has bent sideways from the frame. Tri-Tainium has now gone into full running away mode, as it moves with some speed away from Resonance, towards the top of the arena, with Resonance trying to follow with its drum facing towards the enemy. Tri-Tainium is now moving towards the pit, trying to get Resonance broadside on, while Aaron is maneuvering his machine to deflect any blows with the weapon...Tri-Tainium moves in...Resonanace turns...and Tri-Tainium jerks to the right and goes in!
CRASH! And it's Resonance's turn to be flipped up and over - and another of those wedgelets has come off! Tri-Tainium tries to retain the initiative, and moves in on the other side panel, but Aaron sees it coming and turns Resonance into the attack!
CRASH! And Tri-Tainium is getting a lot of airtime out there - it's not enjoying it by the looks of it, the scoop is very visibly damaged now, but Resonance has lost another wedge from the shock! The floor is littered with bits of Resonance's wedges, but it's still moving, and it's coming in on the attack, as Tri-Tainium...isn't doing much. In fact, it isn't doing anything, and Paul is holding his transmitter up in the air, but there's no obvious life in his machine, as Resonance comes in again...
CRASH! And there's why! Tri-Tainium has flipped up and over again, and there is a small red object where it used to be - the link. The link must have come out of Tri-Tainium in that second to last hit, and Aaron knows he's won, the weapon of Resonance is spinning down, wedgeless but victorious.
CEASE
Tri-Tainium fought relentlessly, but has eventually succumbed to Aaron Knight and Resonance!
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SEMI FINALS
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Shane Swan, and a man in a penguin outfit
Booth 2, right hand side: Frank Goacher
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Envy is immediately off, going for the box rush to stop The 6isc from spinning up, but The 6isc saw it coming and dodges the attack rather nicely, moving up towards the top of the arena. Envy gives chase, but The 6isc's weapon is spun up now, and although Envy is able to get underneath one of its opponent's wheel pods, the disc makes contact with the side as it does so!
CRASH! And as Envy goes flying, it knocks its aggressor upwards as well! Both machines land, Envy is upside down though...no real problem, as it somersaults back on to its wheels in a cloud of CO2 and speeds away from the incoming 6isc. The robots now square off, Envy trying to manuver around the side of The 6isc, while Frank tries to keep his machine's weapon facing the opponent. They're moving in some sort of waltz, it would seem...but then The 6isc breaks the deadlock and goes all out at Envy!
CRASH! The 6isc is flung off the wedge of Envy by the force of that hit, which appears to have caused a long dent in Envy's flipper arm. Envy is now on the attack though, and drives in under The 6isc!
CRASH! And just like before, the robots are torn away from each other, Envy's front now looking rather scarred. Shane continues on the offensive though, coming around and ramming into The 6isc before it can spin up again...slamming it against the top arena wall! The 6isc attempts to drive off the top of Envy, but it only has one set of wheels in contact with the ground, and can do little more than reposition itself on the wedge, before...
FLIP! And the nose of Envy bounces up! It comes down though, and the flipper appears to have done its work, as The 6isc is propped on the angle grinder! One wheel pod is hanging over the arena entrance area, and it would only take a little nudge to send it into oblivion. Envy backs off...Shane fires the flipper again...and comes in to oblige with a tap to The 6isc with the extended weapon, and Frank sets his transmitter down as his robot slides off across the scenery.
CEASE
After a short but sweet battle, Shane Swan and Envy are through to the tournament final!
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ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Kody Kunz
Booth 2, right hand side: Aaron Knight
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And in very similar fashion to the last fight, the robot on the left goes for the box rush. Resonance turns away from the attack, and Macduff nearly hits the arena wall as it tries to reverse away. Resonance is backing off, trying to get its drum spinning to a reasonable speed, as Macduff comes in, and lines up a ram...Resonance moves forward to try and hit the sides, but Macduff turns, and goes in!
CRASH! And Macduff bounces backwards, not quite thrown away by the energy, but sporting a slightly bent spike...it tries to keep the initiative though, as Resonance tries to manuver around the side. Macduff turns, and comes in again with the spike!
CRASH! Macduff does go flying this time, but lands on its rounded back and comes down on its tracks! Resonance turns away, Aaron trying to buy some spin up time. Macduff drives over the flame grid, turning around to come in on the attack, but that spike is looking rather bent now - it's almost sticking in the air. Macduff drives in, residual flames blazing behind it*, as Resonance turns to keep its weapon facing the opponent. Macduff thinks about ramming, Resonance moving in with the drum at full speed, but it doesn't anticipate Macduff well enough, as it comes in on the side!
CRASH! And somehow, Resonance got a drum hit in, and a rip has now appeared in Macduff's side...it hasn't stopped the charge much though, as it comes in again, and goes underneath the drum with the wedge! Resonance isn't spinning any longer, the spike shaft of Macduff stopping the teeth from moving, and it is now being pushed into the arena walls by the Scottish rambot. Macduff turns towards the pit, but in the process manages to drop Resonance, which turns away...or it's turning away slowly, as one of the wedgelets protecting the wheels is stuck underneath the left hand side of the robot, severely impeding its movement, and Macduff sees this and rams again! The drum is spinning, somewhat, but it doesn't seem to have much effect on Macduff, just knocking it backwards slightly, as Resonance inexorably is driven towards the pit...Macduff turns, slowly, attempting to line itself up to drop Resonance in the pit, and pushes. Aaron is holding his controls up in desperation, but his robot's drum is only knocking one of the edges of Macduff a bit, until one of its wheel pods slides down onto the edge of the pit...
CRASH! What happened there? Macduff's front skirt is hanging by a thread - the hinges must have been hit by the weapon as it went down! Kody looks briefly alarmed, but then Resonance, jolted slightly backwards by the impact, slides along the edge of the pit slightly before tipping down in a pall of smoke. Aaron looks puzzled, partially relieved that it's all over, while Kody smiles to himself in his control booth.
CEASE
It's not really a good day for spinning weapons - Macduff The Second and Kody Kunz go through to the final!
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PLAY OFF
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Frank Goacher
Booth 2, right hand side: Aaron Knight
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ACTIVATE
Two very similar robots here, and the battle starts slowly, both machines spinning up their weapons, before The 6isc makes the first move, moving down towards the far end of the arena as it lines itself up for a good hit on Resonance. Resonance moves forwards, turning to keep its weapon facing the opponent, and comes in, speeding up for a charge...The 6isc moves out of the way, but Resonance turns in, and The 6isc inadvertently drives straight into the drum!
CRASH! And it's Resonance who goes flying! The 6isc jolts backwards as well, but its weapon appears to have had the upper hand in that particular collision...Resonance lands, not too shaken, and begins to spin up again, as The 6isc moves around, trying to get at the sides...Resonance is attempting to stop that, and the robots are moving in a slow waltz, it would appear. The 6isc tries to dummy Resonance...Resonance goes in, but The 6isc turns and goes for the wheel pod!
CRASH! Amidst the sparks, something goes flying - Resonance has lost one of its wedges again! The wedge is now on the floor, while the springs holding it in are poking in something of a mess out of the wheel area - but The 6isc is sporting a huge dent in its wheel covers as well - Resonance managed to get its weapon in too! The robots approach each other tentatively again...Resonance comes in...The 6isc backs off briefly...and turns into the wheel cover again!
CRASH! Resonance goes over again! It lands on the flame grid, which obligingly flares up as it drives away. The 6isc drives forward again, Frank wanting to get at Resonance's wheels, but it moves too late, and Resonance comes straight in...there's a moment when nothing happens, the teeth on the weapons not being able to catch each other, but then...
CRASH! Both machines go flying, but Resonance more impressively - Aaron is getting a lot of Air Miles today, it would seem. Resonance's weapon doesn't have enough energy to be the winner of a weapon-to-weapon hit...The 6isc is spinning up again, and Resonance is as well...but it's shaking! The weapon slows down somewhat, and one of the teeth has been broken by that previous hit - it can't spin at high speed without losing balance, and The 6isc seems to know this, as it goes straight in!
CRASH! That drum isn't spinning any more, and Resonance is now up against the wall, stuck between a rock and a hard place. The 6isc comes in, and turns slightly to get a good shot in...
CRASH! Another wedgelet goes flying! Resonance isn't doing too well here...The 6isc backs away, and Resonance tries to get away, but it doesn't seem to be mobile on the right hand side, it's just moving in circles now. The weapon is spinning, but not very well, and The 6isc waits its moment...Resonance turns, but in doing so goes broadside on...and The 6isc comes in...
CRASH! Resonance bounces up, but its wheel cover has come loose! One side of it is hanging down, scraping the floor, and Resonance can't manage anything more than twitchy movements from its left side...
CRASH! The 6isc isn't showing any mercy here...and Resonance has stopped! The left hand drive chain has broken and been ripped off by that hit, and is lying uselessly on the floor now!
CRASH! And the wheel at the front has come off...there's only one winner here, and it's definitely not Resonance. Aaron leans against the Lexan of his booth and stares despondently at his machine as he sets his controls down.
CEASE
CRASH! The wheel guard on that side has completely come away now - you can see all the mechanical workings inside Resonance. It appears as if someone told Frank to stop though, finally, as The 6isc's weapon is spinning down.
Well, it was more one sided than it seemed there, really - Frank Goacher and The 6isc are the third place winners!
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THE FINAL
ROBOTEERS, STAND BY
Booth 1, left hand side: Kody Kunz
Booth 2, right hand side: Shane Swan
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And so, the grand final begins. Almost immediately, both robots come out of the starting points, Macduff, slightly the faster, turning to get around the side of Envy, as Envy turns to keep its front facing Macduff. Envy comes in, trying to get around the side of Macduff, who turns to try and thwart the manuver, but Envy darts to the side, getting around the slowly turning Macduff, and wedges underneath, powering it towards the arena wall!
FLIP! And...almost over so quickly! Macduff just caught on the wall and came down, albeit landing on its back. Kody backs off from the approaching Envy, before coming in...and ramming...and getting underneath Envy! Shane tries to drive off, but Envy's wheels are stuck over the top of the skirt, Macduff is already pushing Envy towards the bottom right corner...slamming Envy into the wall! It's jolted, but manages to get off the skirt now though, and reverses up, over the flame pit, before driving through the fire into Macduff!
FLIP! Macduff gets stacked against the arena side...the tracks can get some grip though, and it trundles along the wall before coming down on its back, and moving away, up towards the top of the arena with Envy giving chase. Envy tries to get underneath the rear of Macduff, but only gets the tip of the wedge underneath before Macduff is able to turn away. Macduff gets onto Envy's side, going underneath with the skirt and pushing Envy towards the wall, but Envy is able to get off and drive further down the arena. Macduff turns, facing towards Envy from a distance. Envy curves round, facing Macduff, and then starts to move slowly in. Macduff pauses, and then goes in...Envy moving faster...they crash into each other, and Envy is able to get enough momentum to go underneath the front skirt!
FLIP! And Macduff is now right way up again, but it's rounded behind is now facing Envy...Shane senses the opportunity, and rams Envy beneath Macduff, pushing it across the arena, past the pit...the robots ram into the wall, and the flipper on Envy retracts. Kody sees what could be his one escape chance, and tries to reverse over the top and off the wedge, but doesn't move quickly enough...
FLIP! Macduff somersaults into the air! Turning, rotating, falling...through the venting CO2 of its opponent, onto the raised flipper arm...bouncing onto the wall...and over! Shane throws his arm into the air in victory, Kody beginning to applaud, smiling slightly at his robot's acrobatics, as the spotlights focus on Macduff lying across the arena entrance area - ironically, just below him.
CEASE
Well, it's been an exciting battle, as battles go - but although Kody Kunz and Macduff The Second put up a good fight, the winners of The Roaring Donkey Mini Tournament are Shane Swan and Envy!
