Its a bit late, but heres the gauntlet runs.

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

First tonight is Chris Masons Orka Mk4.

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Orka immediately heads straight for the breezeblocks, ploughing into the centre of them and throwing up a cloud of white dust. It turns, and pushes the debris away, then attempts to about turn to reverse up the ramp. Coming back tentatively, Orka attempts to mount the seesaw...and stops. Chris tries his controls, but the wheels of his machine arent making contact with the ground, caught up on the ramp by a piece of brick. Killalot notices, and comes in...bringing the claw down, nudging Orka to one side, and setting it free! Now, it can try and mount the ramp, but Killalot has other plans, and gets the lower part of the jaws in on Orkas right hand self righting arm, and closing them! Orka speeds up the ramp, away from the house robot, but leaving the metal righting bar severed on the floor, but it doesnt affect it, as Orka comes down, feints beyond Dead Metal and crosses into the end zone!

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Orka Mk4 - COMPLETED in 50.5 secs

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Shane Swans turn next, with Trax.

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A slow start for Trax, as it comes out of the cage, but it turns and drives into the bricks, knocking them over easily. Clearing them out of the way with the scoop, Trax starts up the ramp, coming to one side as it does so but correcting itself. The ramp lowers, and Trax makes its way down, but comes straight into Shunt at the bottom, and the house robot rams it with the scoop...neither is able to get under the other, but Shunt seems to have the edge in pushing ability, and edges Trax back into the side wall, before bringing the axe down to put a dent in the front scoop! Trax tries to get free, but Shunt comes in agian, pinning it from the side and lifting the robot up with the scoop. Shane shakes his head, and tries to maneuver Trax free, but hes not getting any traction in thin air, the tracks just spinning as Dead Metal begins to show an interest, as Shunts axe hits again, this time perforating the polyethylene top armour of Trax!

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Trax - 14.25 metres

***

Super Gore Evo next to take the challenge, driven by Kody Kunz.

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Super Gore Evo comes out and heads into the bricks, a popular choice this heat it would seem. The concrete comes crashing down, providing no real oposition to the claws of Super Gore Evo, who now comes in over the debris, but appears to be having problems turning on to the seesaw, with the bricks in the way - theres half of one between the claws and pieces under the tracks, preventing it from lining itself up properly. Killalot looms from the rear, coming in on Super Gore, which is now attempting to break through the right hand side railing, it would seem, but it doesnt look as if Super Gore has one of those tracks fully operating any more. Kody looks concerned, as from his view Super Gore disappears behind the bulk of Killalot, who gets the lance underneath the claws, and drags it up into the air, holding it aloft by a claw as Bash comes in up the left side alley, torching the underside of the stricken machine.

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Super Gore Evo - 2.75 metres

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Martijn Benschop is next, with Sheer Heart Attack II.

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Its a fast start, Sheer Heart Attack II coming out of the cage in reverse and ramming into the brick wall, and the bricks collapse around the robot as it comes through, and begins to come up the ramp, rolling over the debris with the tracks. The seesaw tilts, and some of the bricks that were carried between the tracks topple forward and slide down ahead of Sheer Heart Attack, as Dead Metal comes in to try and block the route, and gets the pincers in around one of the tracks. Martijn keeps going though, as the house robots wheels spin in an attempt to slow the machines advance, but the saw comes down and sparks fly from the plating protecting the sides of the robot. Sheer Heart Attack turns, though, and breaks the grip of the house robot, before Martijn powers forward over the finish line!

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Sheer Heart Attack II - COMPLETED in 35 secs

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Andrew Jacksons turn with SoR Hex now.

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Son Of Ripper Hex scrapes against the side of the cage, before backing up and coming out, and unusually turning as it comes in to the junction, towards the left hand route and the house robots. SoR drives forward, wanting to avoid Killalot, who advances down the passage and turns to block SoRs route. Andy pauses for a moment, before backing his robot away slightly and turning it just over the edge of the pit, away from the house robot, and coming away from danger and down the route, as Sgt. Bash sends out a burst of flame. He then comes in, towards SoR, and rams into the approaching robot with the blade, preventing further advancing. SoR backs away, before coming in and ramming the military machine, to wedge under it and push it out of the way, but it holds firm, and Shunt is now there with the scoop, getting in under the contestant robot! Bash flickers the torch again, and Shunt lifts SoR into the air, before turning towards the pit at the other side...dragging it towards the void before sending it down.

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

SoR Hex - 11 metres

***

ROBOTEERS, STAND BY

Last to go is Storm II, with Ed Hoppitt and Paul Cuomo up in the control booth.

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Storm II comes straight out of the starting cage and into the right central barrier, somewhat clumsily. It backs up, and turns towards the saws, and the ramrig which is sitting invitingly open, and Storm drives in towards it, hoping to get through before it closes. It does begin to close, and Storm makes its way down between the saws, somewhat tentatively, before pausing brielfy to turn closer to the side, but it gets caught on the closing rig, knocking it off course. Ed reverses Storm a few inches to try and line up a clean run through the rest, but backs his machine on to the saws, and as sparks briefly fly, Storm gets stuck on the ramping, unable to move. Frantic discussions in the drivers booth ensue, as Storms wheels spin without any effect, its not going to make it any further down the course. Matilda awaits at the end, almost looking frustrated that she cant get in to savage Storm, but it cant come out to gain any more ground.

STOP, AND DEACTIVATE ROBOTS

Storm II - 7.75 metres

LEADERBOARD:
1: Sheer Heart Attack II - Completed
2: Orka Mk4 - Completed
3: Trax - 14.25m
4: SoR Hex - 11m
5: Storm II - 7.75m
6: Super Gore Evo - 2.75m (OUT)

Super Gore Evo, Im afraid its time for you to go. (This is NOT a pattern of the previous heats winner going out in the gauntlet of the next by the way, I only just noticed this after I wrote all the runs)

COMING TOMORROW:
ROBOTIC SOCCER
Dead Metal in goal, Sgt. Bash in defence with his LEM200s. You can make reasonable modifications to your robot for this (scoops, flappy things etc.) as well as have tactics, but bear in mind you cannot use weapons except for self righting.

One more thing: From next heat, the middle route of the gauntlet will have pinball-style barrels instead of blocks at the start. Its not a major change as far as ease of completion is concerned, its just theres only so many times you can write about collapsing bricks before it becomes soul destroying If anyone has a problem with this, tell me.

So, thoughts, comments, other interesting things?