Our second FRA social in Huddersfield on 5th June at the Albert Hotel was an evening that everyone enjoyed. There were 9 roboteers there, including Derek Meads and the Mean Streak team, who gave us a rundown on their plans for a new Meaner Streak. There were impressive 3-D CAD drawings, showing the full mechanical arrangement for this triple spinner. It looks vicious, and is expected to be ready for the World Championships, although it has not been entered yet.

I provided some background from the last FRA Executive meeting, following my briefing from Kevin Scott. The World Championship has definitely transferred to RAF Newton from Manchester, and has been extended by 1 day, so that it is now August 24th-28th. The application list is just about full (although the format could be extended) and there are still some reserve places and additional slots available to people who apply promptly. Beware, you will be up against some serious teams from the USA and Europe.

The judges have been agreed as Noel Sharkey, Arthur Chilcott and Ray Tate. It will be televised over 6 nights on an un-named channel. There will be recognised names as the presenters.

Steve Woolsey kindly agreed to set up and manage a Robot Ladder on the FRA Website, and I am sure that this will be warmly welcomed as soon as the detailed rules have been agreed.

The next FRA regional social will be at Brewsters, near Lincoln, at 8pm on Saturday 3rd July.

The Mean Streak Team agreed to approach a local pub (The Rat and Ratchet) for the next Huddersfield meeting, where they were certain that a room could be obtained free. We decided that as many people would be away on holiday in early August to hold the next meeting in Huddersfield on Saturday, 4th September.