Judge Shred

"...will Judge Shred condemn its opponents to execution?"

- Jonathan Pearce in Series 3

Judge Shred was the name given to a series of robots that competed in Series 3, 4, 6 and 7 of Robot Wars, plus the first series of Robot Wars Extreme. From Series 4 onwards, the team would always take part in battles wearing judges' wigs. Its name is a pun on the character Judge Dredd, from the 2000 AD comic book series of the same name.

Judge Shred
"...looks like a head-on collision between a food mixer and the surface of Mars."

- Robot Wars Magazine on the original Judge Shred

The original Judge Shred was a vaguely box-shaped red robot running off golf cart batteries, two 24 volt wheelchair motors and a wheelchair speed controller, with two lifting pincers at the front with hardened edges to crush. and a spike at the back for extra grip. Both of the weapons were powered by 150 PSI gas canisters. "The back one is a spike, which is variable, so we've got extra grip at the back if we get pushed off."

- Alan Blakeman on the rear weapon

This version was armoured in aluminium and tubular steel with a 2" weld mesh cover covered in fibreglass. It took 8 weeks to build.

Judge Shred 2
In Series 4, the team entered Judge Shred 2, which was a low conventional box shape made from polycarbonate and alloy steel, armed with a 3-bar flipper on the front and an axe on the back, both powered by CO2. However, due to the robot having come in over the weight limit, two motors had to be removed, which stripped its rear axe of the right amount of power to self-right. Judge Shred 2 had a top speed of 7mph and was powered by 2 wheelchair motors.

Judge Shred 2½
"Heavy weaponry with which the judge can meet out punishment; a 180 degree axe, front flipper, and the body shell acts as a srimech too."

- Jonathan Pearce in Extreme 1

In Extreme Series 1 and Series 6, the team entered Judge Shred 2½, which was a low aerodynamic dome-shaped robot with multiple body panels for damage limitation, 12mph speed and a flipper on the front and a lifting arm used as a self-righting mechanism (incorrectly stated as a 180 degree axe) on the back. It was powered by 2 750 watt electric motors. However, this incarnation of Judge Shred lost all three of the battles it fought in and failed to qualify for Series 5.

Judge Shred 3
"A lot more armour, new motors, speed controllers, we've made the flipper so it self rights, which helps, and there's a lot more power in the flipper. But the main thing is: running it, running it and running it all year, and getting the weak points out."

- Alan Blakeman listing the improvements to Judge Shred

The team's final robot, Judge Shred 3 (alternatively Judgeshred 3), was entered in Series 7 and was an upgraded version of its predecessor with better armour (aluminium and steel), improved motors and a more powerful flipper at 1000PSI, capable of throwing a robot out of the arena, which it managed in its first round fight against Corkscrew Two, but suffered from reliability issues. The flipper could now function as a self-righting mechanism, allowing the team to remove the rear lifting arm.

Series 3
Judge Shred started its first Robot Wars appearance in Heat K of the Third Wars. In the first round, it was placed up against fellow newcomers to the wars Mr Punch. Judge Shred started by slowly moving towards its opponent, which was only spinning on the spot. Judge Shred managed to get the claws under Mr Punch and lift it up. It dropped Mr Punch and reversed, then pushed it towards the flame pit and into the arena wall. "At the moment, it's Judge Shred doing all the work."

- Jonathan Pearce

Judge Shred reversed, allowing Mr Punch to reverse away from the wall. However, it reversed onto the flame pit, and struggled to move off. Judge Shred rammed into it, but Mr Punch turned so the two robots were side-by-side. Mr Punch drove itself off the flame pit, but could not move away as Judge Shred turned around for another attack. Judge Shred tried to push Mr Punch, but drove at its opponent at the wrong angle, so it drove along the side. The two turned together, and as Judge Shred reversed to line up another attack, Mr Punch did not move away. "This is all a battle of brains, not braw so far."

- Jonathan Pearce

Judge Shred got its lifter under Mr Punch and tried to push it back onto the flame pit, but Mr Punch turned off the lifter. It turned away from Judge Shred, but in doing so, turned straight into Shunt, which axed into its top and lifted it with the scoop. Shunt drew the axe back, but Mr Punch did not get away, instead spinning on the spot. Shunt axed it again, puncturing the top and lifting it with the scoop again. Judge Shred came in and lifted Mr Punch, holding it still as Shunt axed it again. Judge Shred then pulled Mr Punch away from Shunt, but light smoke could be seen rising from Judge Shred. Mr Punch span on the spot, as Judge Shred drove around it and pushed it down the arena, into the arena wall, then pulled it back. Mr Punch was still spinning, and Judge Shred got side on at it and pushed it around in the last few seconds. "...I think they're on top so far. They've been the more aggressive robot."

- Jonathan Pearce

Judge Shred backed off as Mr Punch span around on the spot, and time ran out. The battle went a judges' decision, and the judges decided that Judge Shred had been the more aggressive and better-controlled combatant, and had suffered less damage than Mr Punch, so they were sent through.

In the second round of the heat, Judge Shred was placed up against another newcomer, X-Terminator.

Judge Shred started slower, as X-Terminator charged across the arena at it, but missed it and crashed into the wall. It quickly recovered, getting behind Judge Shred, axing it and pushing it into the centre of the arena. X-Terminator pushed Judge Shred in a circle in the arena centre, and continued axing it. However, as X-Terminator raised the axe and backed of for another attack, Judge Shred turned around, and managed to block X-Terminator as it charged back using the lifting arms. Judge Shred used the lifting arms to hold X-Terminator back and push it, and X-Terminators axe blow did not reach its opponent because of the arms. However, X-Terminator then got the scoop under Judge Shred and pushed it down the arena, and pushed it into the Pit of Oblivion after a brief struggle where Judge Shred was stuck on the front. "Judge Shred, looking to get those pincers in action, with the great PSI value powered by CO2. But it's...exterminate, exterminate! Judge Shred, pushed towards the Pit! Judge Shred! PSI, CO2...KO! TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!"

- Jonathan Pearce as Judge Shred is pitted.

Instead of fully going in however, its weapons got caught on the edges and suspended it just over the edge, where it attempted to use its claws to escape, but was unable to do so and was deemed immobilised. "Right on the edge of the pit, hanging on in there, but surely it's goodbye for now!"

- Jonathan Pearce

Sir Killalot and Matilda came in and attacked the polycarbonate outer shell just before cease was called, eliminating Judge Shred.

Series 4
Judge Shred returned for the Fourth Wars as Judge Shred 2. It participated in Heat N of the Fourth Wars. In the first round of the heat, Judge Shred 2 was placed up against Millenium Bug and had a grudge match, as its other opponent was the number 22 seeds X-Terminator 2. In the battle, Judge Shred 2 was attacked first by X-Terminator 2 and eventually both robots kept fighting each other until they decided to gang up on Millenium Bug and Judge Shred 2 managed to flip the helpless walker over and get it thrown by the arena floor flipper, sending Judge Shred 2 through to the next round of the heat, along with X-Terminator 2.

In the second round of the heat, Judge Shred 2 was drawn up against the number 6 seeds Behemoth. In this battle, Judge Shred 2 and Behemoth initially tried to avoid each other, then Judge Shred got underneath Behemoth and pushed into the CPZ of Dead Metal. After Behemoth escaped, Judge Shred tried unsuccessfully to flip Behemoth over but Behemoth caught Judge Shred 2 side on and managed to roll the machine over. The rear axe did not have enough power to self-right the machine, so Judge Shred was deemed immobilised. The House Robots closed in to attack, before pitting Judge Shred 2, eliminating it from the competition.

Extreme 1
Judge Shred's only appearance of the first series of Extreme was in a Mayhem qualifier battle, were it was placed up against Bulldog Breed 3 and Spirit of Knightmare. In the battle, Spirit of Knightmare was the early aggressor, pushing Bulldog Breed against an angle grinder, but it simply stopped in the middle of the arena, immobilised. Just after Spirit of Knightmare had been counted out, Judge Shred was then flipped by Bulldog Breed. Its rear self-righting arm failed, and it was subsequently counted out by the Refbot, eliminating it. After some axe blows from Shunt, Judge Shred got back onto its wheels but was then put down the pit of oblivion.

However, Bulldog Breed 3 was unable to fight in the annihilator due to the damage it took in its Series 5 Heat Final against Hypno-Disc. Unfortunately for Judge Shred, despite technically going out of the fight first, Spirit of Knightmare was chosen to replace Bulldog Breed 3.

Series 6
"If there is any justice, deserves to go far."

- Jonathan Pearce finishing Judge Shred's intro

After failing to qualify for the Fifth Wars, Judge Shred 2½ returned for the Sixth Wars. Judge Shred 2½ competed in Heat G of the main competition, and was drawn up against the walkerbot Anarchy, and two newcomers in Revolution 2 and Thor. In the battle, Judge Shred 2½ was attacked repeatedly by the other competitors, Anarchy constantly tried flipping it, with Thor and Revolution 2 trying to bash it with their weaponry. Revolution 2 caused several holes in the armour of Judge Shred. Anarchy then managed to flip it over, but Judge Shred recovered by self-righting. Thor then pinned the latter against the arena side wall, and slammed it constantly with its hammer. Eventually, Thor let Judge Shred go, and Judge Shred came back into the main action, lifting Thor on two occasions, and also flicking Anarchy off the arena floor. However, cease was called for a Judges' decision before enough points could be recovered, with Judge Shred still holding Thor off the ground. The decision went in favour of Anarchy and Thor, eliminating Judge Shred 2½ from the competition, alongside the immobilised Revolution 2. "Have you seen Judge Shred?"

- Roger Webb of the Revolution 2 team, emphasising Judge Shred's damage

Judge Shred 2½ also participated in the UK vs Germany Special at the end of the Sixth Wars. This competition was also broadcast during German Robot Wars. Unfortunately, it was drawn up against the very destructive 259 machine in the first round. In the battle, Judge Shred 2½ began cautiously, keeping its distance from the 259 disc weapon. However, one blow from the weapon crumpled the flipper of Judge Shred 2½, and it was then unable to get underneath the lethal robot. Judge Shred was then spinning in circles inside the CPZ, before it suffered more blows from 259. One last attack from 259 buffeted Judge Shred onto its spinning disc and both robots became immobilised as a result. Judge Shred was counted out first by the Refbot and was then thrown by the floor flipper and pitted by Growler. 259 was also counted out and pitted moments later, but Judge Shred was eliminated from the competition as it was the first to be immobilised.

Series 7
A brand new Judge Shred machine, Judge Shred 3, participated in Heat L of the Seventh Wars. In Judge Shred 3’s first televised battle, it was drawn against New Blood runners-up Mute, Demolition Man and Corkscrew 2. Judge Shred 3 was the most aggressive machine of its melee, going straight after Corkscrew Two, putting pressure on it as it charged into it multiple times. After Mute and house robot Shunt had cornered Demolition Man near the CPZ, Judge Shred 3 then came in and flipped the latter onto its back, from which Demolition Man couldn't self right. Judge Shred 3 then chased down Corkscrew Two, getting its opponent over to the arena side wall and tossing it out, just as the Refbot finished counting out Demolition Man. Judge Shred 3 then joined in, in finally getting rid of Demolition Man, before Dead Metal pitted it. This put Mute and Judge Shred 3 through to the next round of the heat. "The scales of justice weigh heavily against Corkscrew Two!"

- Jonathan Pearce

In the second round of the heat, Judge Shred 3 was drawn up against UFO, whose flipper was now functioning after failing to work in the first round. This battle had a tentative start, both robots circling each over. Judge Shred 3 then flipped UFO over, UFO self-righted before being flipped again by Judge Shred 3 against the arena side wall. Judge Shred tried tossing it out of the arena but only succeeded in getting it back on their wheels. UFO then flipped Judge Shred against the arena sidewall, but it self-righted. Judge Shred 3 got another flip in flipping UFO onto its side, where it couldn’t right from. Because of this, UFO was subsequently counted out by the Refbot. Mr. Psycho dumped UFO down into the pit of oblivion, and so Judge Shred 3 went through to its first heat final. "You've finally done it...first time in the heat final!"

- Craig Charles

In the Heat Final, Judge Shred 3 was drawn up against Mute again. In this battle, Judge Shred 3 once again proved to be the more aggressive, flipping Mute several times, Mute having to do several somersaults to self-right, much to the enjoyment of the audience. Mute then finally got back onto its wheels and got a flip in on Judge Shred 3, which flung it a long way across the arena. Afterwards, Judge Shred 3 appeared to have minor mobility problems, only being able to go round in circles. Cease was eventually called for the battle to go to a judges' decision. The judges very controversially went in favour of Mute, eliminating it from the competition.

Results

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Wins/Losses

 * Wins: 4
 * Losses: 6

Outside Robot Wars
The team also entered spin-off show Techno Games, entering a Shot Putt robot called Gold Fusion, which lost in its heat.

In 2004 a new version of Judge Shred known as Judge Shred 4, briefly competed. It featured stronger armour, a raised profile, and a powerful flipper.

Trivia

 * Judge Shred is the only robot to throw a robot out of the arena, and record more losses than wins.
 * Judge Shred was the only robot to use a ½ in its sequential numbering.
 * Judge Shred was the only robot who appeared in the same show as a walkerbot four times (its heats in Series 4 (Millennium Bug), 6 (Anarchy), and 7 (Ansgar 3) and the UK vs Germany special (Ansgar's Revenge)).
 * Every time Judge Shred fought in the main competition and didn't go out in the first round, they were in the same Heat as either X-Terminator or Behemoth, or both.
 * Barber-Ous 2'n a Bit, Iron-Awe 2.1, Sub-Version 1.1, Malc 1.5 and Judge Shred 2½ are the only robots to name a robot part sequentially.
 * Judge Shred the only one to name a subsequent robot with a new number during Robot Wars itself, though Iron-Awe 2.1 was succeeded by Iron-Awe 3 after Robot Wars had ended.