Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars/Heat L

Heat L
The Robot Wars logo from the introduction titles
Series	The Fifth Wars
Winner(s)	Pussycat
First Broadcast	May 21st 2002 (BBC Choice) October 4th 2002 (BBC Two)
Original channel	BBC Choice BBC Two
Preceded by	Heat K
Succeeded by	Semi-Final 1

Heat L of Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars was the twelfth and final heat which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Fifth Wars. The episode featuring Heat L was originally broadcast on May 21, 2002 on BBC Choice and repeated on October 4, 2002 on BBC Two.

Competing Robots

Newcomers

	Fluffy
	Weight	96kg
	Dimensions	0.20 x 1.03 x 0.66m
	Power	2 x 24V electric motors
	Weapons	Double headed spinning axe
	Strengths	Destructive weapon
	Weaknesses	Inexperience
From: London
Team Members: Peter Holroyd, Peter Johnson & Richard Johnson

	The Executioner
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.51 x 1.32 x 0.88m
	Power	2 x 24V electric motors
	Weapons	Hydraulic crushing claw
	Strengths	Powerful weapon
	Weaknesses	Driving ability
From: Stanground
Team Members: Mark Nenadic, Ian Sanford & David Sanford

Veterans

	101 (seeded 23rd)
	Weight	97kg
	Dimensions	0.26 x 1.01 x 0.82m
	Power	2 x 800W electric motors
	Weapons	Autonomous CO2 powered spike
	Strengths	Agile & violent
	Weaknesses	Traction control
From: Kettering
Team Members: Mike Franklin, Amy Franklin & Steve Bickle

	Clawed Hopper
	Weight	200kg
	Dimensions	0.78 x 1.30 x 0.83m
	Power	5 Electric motors
	Weapons	Steel claws and spinning drums
	Strengths	Weight advantage
	Weaknesses	Slow & sluggish
From: Horn's Cross
Team Members: Andrew Hughes, Joshua Hughes & Nick Clement

	Ming 3
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.80 x 1.33 x 0.77m
	Power	2 x 12V motors
	Weapons	Crushing arm
	Strengths	Powerful weaponry
	Weaknesses	Exposed tyres
From: Somerset
Team Members: Andrew Cotterell, Alexander Cotterell & Oliver Cotterell

	Pussycat (seeded 2nd)
	Weight	97kg
	Dimensions	0.97 x 0.56 x 0.74m
	Power	2 x Electric motors
	Weapons	Spinning blade
	Strengths	Always lands on its feet
	Weaknesses	Exposed tyres
From: Gloucester
Team Members: David Gribble, Robert Bettington & Alan Gribble

	Terrorhurtz
	Weight	97kg
	Dimensions	0.52 x 1.31 x 1.00m
	Power	2 x 24V electric motors
	Weapons	Double-headed axe
	Strengths	Experienced competitors
	Weaknesses	Robot new to competition
From: Oxford
Team Members: John Reid, Dominic Parkinson & Rebecca Reaston-Brown

	Twister
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.42 x 1.32 x 0.83m
	Power	2 x 750W electric motors
	Weapons	Spikes, flywheel and flipper
	Strengths	Multi-weaponry
	Weaknesses	Untested in competition
From: Cowcliffe
Team Members: Stuart Ford, Chris O'Connell & Graham Kershaw

Eliminators

"Battling then for the last available place in our series semi-finals. Previous grand finalists Pussycat against The Executioner. Terrorhurtz, new name for a veteran team against Ming 3 in their third wars. Clawed Hopper is interesting. Twister could whip up a frenzy. 101 are back again and Fluffy, they're new [to the UK Championship]."

— Jonathan Pearce reviewing the robots in the heat and how they line-up in the first round

Pussycat (2) vs The Executioner

The Executioner grapples with Pussycat

"Pussycat, the second seeds for Robot Wars. That is a measure of the task ahead for The Executioner."

— Jonathan Pearce

The Executioner grappled onto Pussycat's blade from the start with its crusher, which stopped the weapon of Pussycat from spinning. The Executioner dragged Pussycat across the arena floor, until letting it go. Pussycat's blade then grazed The Executioner as it came in for the attack. Pussycat, rather unwisely, drove onto the flame pit, but managed to hit the rear of The Executioner and chase it towards Dead Metal. The pair of competitors charged at each other, which appeared to impair The Executioner's mobility. It then spun towards Matilda's CPZ, and the house robot's flywheel snapped off the tip of The Executioner's crusher.

"The pit release button has been depressed by Pussycat, and the The Executioner's team feeling mighty depressed"

— Jonathan Pearce

Pussycat passes the death sentence onto the weaponless Executioner

The Executioner remained mobile, but with little control, and a further blow from Pussycat immobilised the machine. Pussycat pressed the pit release, and tipped the immobilised Executioner into the Pit of Oblivion.

"Don't forget, the winner of this heat takes our final semi-final position in the series. And Pussycat still have hopes. The Executioner does not. They've been axed."

— Jonathan Pearce as Pussycat pits the Executioner

Winner: Pussycat

Terrorhurtz vs Ming 3

Terrorhurtz slams down on Ming 3

Ming 3 pinches its opponent

Ming 3's crumpled rear end after the interference from Matilda

The two combatants initially circled each other, until Terrorhurtz's fearsome axe slammed down onto the side of Ming 3. Terrorhurtz managed to attack in a similar manner several times more, but wasn't causing much visible damage. Terrorhurtz started to chase Ming 3 around the arena, until it drove onto Ming 3's wedge. Ming 3's vertical crusher clamped onto Terrorhurtz, but didn't successfully puncture it. Ming 3 gripped one of Terrorhurtz's side skirts, but as it tried to drag the robot of Team Hurtz onto the flame pit, Matilda came in and slammed into the back of Ming 3 with her flywheel, causing major damage, despite not being anywhere near a CPZ. Terrorhurtz was beached on Ming's wedge, but was freed by the Refbot and was still mobile, unlike Ming 3. As time expired, Matilda whacked Ming again, causing more damage.

"Naughty Matilda, naughty Matilda!"

— Craig Charles

The judges' decision was based on the battle up until the house robot intervention.

"I can only apologise for Matilda's behaviour. She's been given a red card, and has been sternly told off!"

— Craig Charles informing the Cotterells of Matilda's "punishment"

Winner: Terrorhurtz

Clawed Hopper vs Twister

"Look at Twister, chasing off after Clawed Hopper, not knowing quite what to do with it"

— Jonathan Pearce

Twister breaks down while trying to attack Clawed Hopper

Dead Metal seizes Twister

Twister circled and avoided Clawed Hopper from the activate signal, until trying to drill the side of the walkerbot. Clawed Hopper pushed Twister aside, and surprisingly, this was all that was required to leave Twister immobile.

"Er, Twister? You're not exactly whipping up a storm. And I think they're gonna be counted out here by the Refbot. Are we to see a walker going through to reward all the ingenuity? We are! Twister counted out!"

— Jonathan Pearce willing the walkerbot to win

Clawed Hopper slowly seals Twister's fate

Twister eventually goes down

The Refbot counted Twister out of the Fifth Wars, leaving Dead Metal to slice through its armour and leave it on the flame pit. Matilda bashed into the side of Twister with her flywheel, at the same time immobilising Dead Metal, while Clawed Hopper activated the pit. Matilda pushed Twister towards the pit, but backed away to allow Clawed Hopper to finish the job and push Twister down into the pit.

"By the time Halley's Comet next passes the earth, they'll be in the pit."

— Jonathan Pearce

Eventually, Clawed Hopper nudged Twister into the pit and cease was called.

Winner: Clawed Hopper

101 (23) vs Fluffy

The track falls from 101

Fluffy continues to hit 101

101 charged at Fluffy, but the newcomers managed to escape, and get the spinning hammer up to speed. When it did, 101 came in again, and had its right-hand track shredded by the blade of Fluffy, severely impairing the seeded robot's mobility. Fluffy's blade caused damage to the front armour of 101, and eventually the remains of the track fell off.

"That has certainly, has rendered 101, almost, almost immobile"

— Jonathan Pearce

Fluffy tears into 101

Fluffy attacked again, tearing into the side panel of 101.

"The time is nigh for a machine which cost a pound and a penny, to put together as they used to say, hence the name, 101."

— Jonathan Pearce reading the last rites to the former semi-finalist

Fluffy began buckling a side panel and one of the front spikes as the time ran out, leaving the judges with an easy decision to make.

"You might be fluffy by name, but you're certainly not Fluffy by nature!"

— Craig Charles with the Fluffy team

Winner: Fluffy

Semi-Finals

Pussycat (2) vs Clawed Hopper

Philippa Forrester: "This is the first time a walker has got through to round two, and that's your robot. How do you feel?"

Team Clawed Hopper: "Very pleased, we thought we'd be trashed in the first round to be honest"

Philippa Forrester: "And here you are, then tragically, you're pitted against seed number two, grand finalist from last year, the Pussycat. What does that do?"

Team Clawed Hopper: "I think our run might come to an abrupt end...however, we will give it our best shot"

— Pre-match talk with Philippa Forrester

Pussycat on the offensive

Pussycat rips off Clawed Hopper's drum

Pussycat, the overwhelming favourite for this battle, drove around, and buried its blade into the rear of Clawed Hopper. It then hit the front end of the walking machine. Pussycat backed away and went in for another onslaught, which severed the chain holding together the spinning drum on the side of Clawed Hopper, resulting in the weapon falling off. Pussycat spent the remainder of the fight hitting its foe with the spinning disc, causing more damage, but both robots were still fully mobile at the end.

Clawed Hopper tries to attack Pussycat

"That was a war of attrition, and definitely one for the judges."

— Craig Charles' appraisal

Winner: Pussycat

Terrorhurtz vs Fluffy

Philippa Forrester: "And they call Anne Robinson a battleaxe? No, this is the battle of the axes! Is it a cruel accident of fate that you've been put together? And then I couldn't think of any more after that, but you said you've got the most powerful axe in the business, but it's going to be put to the test"

John Reid: "Probably, this is a serious test, this one. However we have a Fluffy-launch device on the back"

Philippa Forrester: "A Fluffy-launch device? That wasn't there before?"

John Reid: "It's a secret weapon"

Philippa Forrester: "How does it work?"

John Reid: "The theory is, it hits this, rides up the back, and it does horrible things when it gets launched into the air"

Philippa Forrester: "Yes...not very scientific, is it?"

John Reid: "We'll see"

Philippa Forrester: "But it's very last minute, so fair enough"

— The pre-match introduction of the "Fluffy-launch device", from Team Hurtz

Terrorhurtz with its "Fluffy launch device"

Terrorhurtz axes Fluffy

Terrorhurtz is ripped open

As soon as the activate command was sounded, Terrorhurtz drove at Fluffy, and got underneath it with its wedged sides, rather than the pole, nicknamed the "Fluffy-launch device". Terrorhurtz slammed the top of Fluffy three times, but was unable to prevent Fluffy getting away. Terrorhurtz axed again, but missed. This turned out to be costly, as Fluffy turned, ripped off the side panel of Terrorhurtz with its blade, and left the CO₂, to leak out of Terrorhurtz. Another attack ripped some internals from Terrorhurtz, and it was immobilised, resulting in Refbot counting it out of the heat and the series.

"I am so impressed by Fluffy, their first time in [the UK Championship of] Robot Wars, and Terrorhurtz are discombobulated! Something has been ripped away from the inside, and they're facing, here, oblivion, from that very strong Fluffy team."

— Jonathan Pearce

Shunt pits Terrorhurtz before going in as well

Sir Killalot ensured that Terrorhurtz was thrown by the floor flipper, before Shunt drove into the pit while pushing Terrorhurtz in.

"Terrorhurtz knows it really hurts! Fluffy does its stuff, Fluffy goes through!"

— Craig Charles

Winner: Fluffy

Final

Pussycat (2) vs Fluffy

Fluffy causes Pussycat's blade to fly off

The two robots bumped into each other in the opening seconds. Pussycat went in on the attack again, wedging itself underneath Fluffy. After circling each other for a little while, getting their spinning weapons up to speed, Fluffy turned and the horizontal and vertical blades came into contact.

"That was no tickling! The Pussycat blade is gone!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Fluffy is counted out

The impact completely snapped off the spinning disc of Pussycat, as well as one of its caster wheels.

"It was blade against blade, and Pussycat were no match!"

— Jonathan Pearce

Dead Metal pushes Fluffy into the pit

Pussycat then got stuck on a flame vent, but after it got away, it became evident that the battle had turned on its head, since Fluffy had broken down. Fluffy was counted out, allowing Pussycat to qualify for the series semi-finals. Fluffy was then carried to the floor flipper by Sir Killalot, prior to being pitted by Dead Metal, who got stuck on the pit as well.

"How unlucky can you get? Pussycat use up all of their nine lives, and go through to the series semi-finals!"

— Craig Charles

Heat Winner: Pussycat

"Dim the lights, cue the applause, you've been watching, Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trivia

• This heat was the only one in history to feature two previous years seeds where the top and bottom seeds were in opposite halves between series; in Series 5, Pussycat was now the seed within the upper half and 101 was now in the lower half, a reversal of Series 4.
• The concluding heat of the Fifth Wars saw Clawed Hopper become the first walkerbot ever to pass Round 1 of the UK Championship, after beating Twister.
• Fluffy, the winner of Series 5's Most Promising Newcomer Award, upon defeating the twenty-thirdrd seed 101 made 101 the first seed ever to lose in the first round on a judges' decision.
  • It was one of only three newcomers to reach the third round of the heats in this war.
• Both of the newcomers had been seen in Robot Wars Extreme prior to Heat L, making Heat L the only heat in the Fifth Wars where all eight teams had featured in the televised show before.
• Heat L saw Terrorhurtz compete in televised competition for the first time, having appeared in the video games Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction and Robot Wars: Advanced Destruction prior to this episode being shown.
• This was the last heat in UK Robot Wars history where the competing teams had, between them, debuted in every war up to and including the current series.
• The third eliminator was the only battle in this heat not to feature a seeded robot or team that lost in the first round of a UK Championship.
• Heat B of Series 7 would be the next heat where a seeded robot did not make it to the second round of the heat.