Evil Weevil

Evil Weevil
Participation Information
UK Series	3-4
Other Names	Evil Weevil 2 (Series 4)
Team Information
Team	Llantarnam School
Team Members	Kevin Pritchard Andrew Davies (Series 3) Michael Walsh (Series 3) Ashley Evans (Series 4) Mark Mellor (Series 4)
From	Cardiff
Associated Robots	Panic Attack (Kevin Pritchard)
Robot Statistics
Weight	80.2kg
Dimensions	0.30m x 1.10m x 0.70m
Clearance	2mm
Top Speed	10mph
Power	2 x electric motors
Weapons	Lifting spikes and spiked Sledgehammer
Statistics correct as of its most recent show/competition appearance, or if not applicable, qualification attempt.

"Get ready for an upheaval, from the Weevil!"

— Jonathan Pearce in Series 4

Evil Weevil was a Welsh robot, entered into Series 3 and 4 of Robot Wars by Kevin Pritchard of the Panic Attack team. It reached the Semi-Finals of Series 3, only to be defeated by eventual runners-up Hypno-Disc. Evil Weevil also won the Series 3 Robotic Soccer tournament despite not scoring a goal in either of its two matches. However, it lost in the first round of its Heat in Series 4, due to an uncharged battery.

Versions of Evil Weevil

Evil Weevil

"The front spikes are tipped red, to disguise spilled blood."

— Jonathan Pearce

Evil Weevil in Series 3

Evil Weevil was a black, green and yellow robot designed to resemble a beetle. It was armed with a set of electric lifting prongs which gave it a similar look to Panic Attack. It was armoured in ballistic fibreglass and Kevlar with Velcro used to snag chainsaws. It ran off Sinclair C5 motors and took three months to build at a cost of £400.

Evil Weevil 2

Evil Weevil 2 in the arena

In Series 4, the team rebuilt and renamed the machine Evil Weevil 2, although it was mostly just known as Evil Weevil. It was equipped with a hammer weapon powered by a fire extinguisher, which, in turn, was powered by a SodaStream bottle, and was painted bronze. This version only had two prongs on its lifting forks rather than three, like the Series 3 version featured. Its base was made from the inside of a security van, and the insect antennae hung over the lifting forks.

Etymology

The name Evil Weevil is derived from a weevil insect, and may also be a reference to stunt artist Evel Knievel.

The Team

"Kevin Pritchard, was a member of the victorious Panic Attack team..."

— Jonathan Pearce, repeatedly

The team in Series 3

The team in Series 4

The Evil Weevil team was founded by Kevin Pritchard, a teacher at Llantarnam School in Cardiff, with various pupils as team members. Pritchard had previously been a member of the Panic Attack team that won the Second Wars. However, after losing in Series 4, the team disbanded, and Pritchard later returned to the Panic Attack team in the second series of Extreme, before taking over as captain and driver in the Seventh Wars.

In Series 3, Kevin Pritchard was joined by Andrew Davies and Michael Walsh, whilst Ashley Evans and Mark Mellor were his teammates in Series 4.

Robot History

Series 3

"The Eeeevil Weeeeevil..."

— Philippa Forrester, repeatedly

Evil Weevil's first round battle for the Third Wars saw it go up against newcomer Triterobot.

Triterobot side-stranded

Triterobot was the perfect shape for Evil Weevil to attack, meaning that it had an easy battle. Evil Weevil rammed the triangular shaped machine around the arena for a little while, but Triterobot impaled Evil Weevil with one of its three spikes. Evil Weevil drove back and forth in an attempt to free itself, but instead, doing this caused Triterobot to start billowing a smokescreen. Evil Weevil then freed itself, and then rammed Triterobot onto its side, meaning it could progress to the next round of the Heat despite losing one of its eyes and getting an axe blow from Shunt for attacking him.

In the second round, Evil Weevil went up against newcomers Flip Flop Fly, another good shape for it to push.

Evil Weevil tries to scoop up Flip Flop Fly

The sluggish Flip Flop Fly robot was repeatedly slammed by the much quicker Evil Weevil machine, not standing much of a chance to fight back with its swinging weapon. Flip Flop Fly was worn down after a while, with one of its tyres punctured by the forks of Evil Weevil and the batteries running down rapidly. This allowed House Robots Matilda and Shunt to close in on Flip Flop Fly and batter the cylinder-shaped machine into complete submission. Cease was called and Evil Weevil was declared the winner.

Evil Weevil's Heat Final battle saw it go up against another newcomer, Panzer.

Like Evil Weevil, Panzer had also progressed through the Heat with relative ease so far. However, the tracked robot failed to move off the mark, making it cannon fodder for Evil Weevil. It was rammed by Evil Weevil, which finally showed the power of its lifting forks against the lifeless Panzer. Sir Killalot then came in and sliced into one of Panzer's tracks, before lifting it into the air and twirling it around. Cease was soon called and Evil Weevil was put through to the Series Semi-Finals.

"...and Evil Weevil, up against it, with Hypno-Disc!"

— Jonathan Pearce concludes the Semi-Final line-up

However, in the Series Semi-Finals, Evil Weevil had horrible luck to be drawn up against the lethal Hypno-Disc in the first round.

Evil Weevil is struck by Hypno-Disc

Hypno-Disc causes minimal damage to the shell of Evil Weevil

Evil Weevil becomes immobile

Evil Weevil is punished by the House Robots

Hypno-Disc began the match by ripping some armour off Evil Weevil, which wasn't looking as aggressive as did in the heats. Hypno-Disc then started shredding the front end of Evil Weevil, before the Welsh machine backed into a CPZ, fortunate to escape. Hypno-Disc smashed into the forks, causing sparks to fly. It was around this moment when Kevin Pritchard took the controls of Evil Weevil, to no different effect. Hypno-Disc tore the last bit of armour from Evil Weevil before the latter lost drive on the right-hand side, possibly due to warning tape from the arena having caught in one of its wheels. Shunt smashed his axe into the top of Evil Weevil, immobilising it. Cease was soon called and Evil Weevil was eliminated from the competition.

"The spinning disc of doom got you too."

— Philippa Forrester, to the Evil Weevil team after the Semi-Final defeat

Despite being shredded by Hypno-Disc in the Semi-Finals, Evil Weevil also entered in the Robotic Soccer tournament that ran alongside the main competition of the Third Wars. Evil Weevil was placed up against Alien in the qualifier match, and was considered the favourite to win the battle.

Evil Weevil was quickly the only competitor still moving as Alien drove over an arena spike and got flipped over onto its side. Evil Weevil tried desperately throughout the remainder of the match to score, but the House Robots held a firm wall, and Evil Weevil failed to score. Cease was eventually called, and Evil Weevil was put through to the final due to being mobile for longer and having more possession and shots.

In the final, Evil Weevil went up against Gnasher, The General and Velocirippa.

Evil Weevil beside the burning football

Evil Weevil started the match staying out of the action almost completely. However, eventually Evil Weevil tried to charge at the ball when it was stuck in the corner. Evil Weevil tried to shunt Matilda out of the way of the ball to get to it, but was unsuccessful. Evil Weevil then charged into Gnasher side on and flipped it over using its forks, putting them out of the running. Evil Weevil then tried to steer the ball around the limping General machine, before sending the ball into the centre of the arena, into the path of Sergeant Bash's flamethrower, Sergeant Bash set the ball on fire, but Evil Weevil still tried to steer it towards the goal, however the recent Semi-Finalist was put off by the suddenly mobile Velocirippa robot. Time then ran out, and Evil Weevil was deemed victorious by the judges, declaring it the Robotic Soccer champion, despite failing to score a goal throughout the whole event.

Series 4

"Our seeds, Weld-Dor at number twenty-eight, and Evil Weevil, as high as number twelve."

— Jonathan Pearce at the start of the Heat

Evil Weevil was given the twelfth seed for the Fourth Wars, placing it in Heat K. In the first round melee, Evil Weevil was placed up against two new machines in Tiberius and MouseTrap, the latter being the successor to Evil Weevil's first ever opponent Triterobot.

Evil Weevil is slammed by the MouseTrap weapon

Evil Weevil, immobilised from a dead battery

Sgt. Bash torches Evil Weevil

Evil Weevil is thrown by the floor flipper

In this battle, after all three machines merely dodging around each other, Evil Weevil made a break and tried to lift up Tiberius to shove the newcomers into Dead Metal's CPZ. This was working until Evil Weevil was smacked side on by MouseTrap just outside of the CPZ, allowing Tiberius to escape. After trying to then reverse away from Dead Metal, Evil Weevil then suddenly stopped moving against the arena side wall. After Dead Metal attempted to nudge it into life, all of the House Robots came in and attacked the immobilised seeded machine. Evil Weevil was then dragged away and placed on the arena floor flipper, where it was thrown, with shards of armour splintering off as it landed, upside down. Cease was then called and Evil Weevil was eliminated from the competition.

"The bronze shell is ruptured and torched!"

— Jonathan Pearce as Evil Weevil is attacked by the House Robots

Back in the pits, it was revealed the reason that Evil Weevil had stopped was because one of the six batteries the team had available had not been charged fully - it was this battery that was in the robot at the time. This was Evil Weevil's last appearance in Robot Wars.

Results

Wins/Losses

• Wins: 3
• Losses: 2

NOTE: Evil Weevil's Robotic Soccer appearances are not included in the tally.

Series Record

• The logo on the side of Evil Weevil (Series 3)
• The insides of Evil Weevil (Series 4)

1/2

Main Series	Evil Weevil Series Record
The First Wars	Did not enter
The Second Wars	Entered with Panic Attack
The Third Wars	Semi-Finals, Round 1
The Fourth Wars	Heat, Round 1
The Fifth Wars	Did not enter
The Sixth Wars	Did not enter
The Seventh Wars	Entered with Panic Attack
Series 8	Did not enter
Series 9	Did not enter
Series 10	Did not enter
Robot Wars Extreme	Appearances
Series 1	Did not enter
Series 2	Entered with Panic Attack

NOTE: This series record reflects only the participation of Kevin Pritchard, and not Panic Attack as a whole

Trivia

• Evil Weevil is the only Welsh robot to reach the Semi-Finals besides Panic Attack.
• Evil Weevil 2 was the highest ranked seed for the Fourth Wars to go out in the first round of the main competition. In fact, Evil Weevil 2 was the highest seed in the Fourth Wars to go out before the Heat Final.
• In every one of its battles, including its Robotic Soccer matches, Evil Weevil went up against at least one newcomer.
• Despite winning the Robotic Soccer tournament in the Third Wars, Evil Weevil never scored a goal, the only one of the four finalists to fail to do so.
• Evil Weevil was the only robot that competed in the Robotic Soccer tournament as well as the corresponding main competition.
• Evil Weevil was one of eight competitors to reach the Semi-Finals in one series, before losing in Round 1 of the following series, including Terrorhurtz's disqualification from the Seventh Wars.
• Evil Weevil was one of four robots in Series 3 to compete in a trial event as well as the main competition. The others were Killerhurtz, Mortis and Razer.
  • Evil Weevil was the only one of the four not to compete in the Pinball, as well as the only one of the four not to compete in the First World Championship as well.
• Only one of Evil Weevil's battles in the UK Championship did not involve it being attacked by the House Robots.
• Although Evil Weevil lost in the first round of the semi-finals of Series 3, it still appeared in the Grand Final where it took part in the Robotic Soccer final.
  • As a result, Evil Weevil is the only robot to lose in the semi-finals yet still appear in a Grand Final.
• Like Panic Attack, Evil Weevil had a bit of a rivalry with House Robot Shunt and engaged with him a bit. However, Evil Weevil only did this in its first two battles against Triterobot and Flip Flop Fly respectively.
• When being interviewed at the start of their Series 3 heat, Michael Walsh had trouble pronouncing Evil Weevil's name which caused Philippa Forrester to ask him "Do you know the name of your robot?".