Robot Wars: The Sixth Wars/Heat J

Heat J
The Robot Wars logo from the introduction titles
Series	The Sixth Wars
Winner(s)	Dominator 2
First Broadcast	September 27th 2002 (BBC Choice) January 24th 2003 (BBC Two)
Original channel	BBC Choice BBC Two
Preceded by	Heat I
Succeeded by	Heat K

Heat J of Robot Wars: The Sixth Wars was the tenth of twelve heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Sixth Wars. The episode featuring Heat J was originally broadcast on September 27, 2002 on BBC Choice and repeated on January 24, 2003 on BBC Two.

Competing Robots

Newcomers

	St. Agro
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.38 x 1.07 x 0.85m
	Power	1 x 800W motor
	Weapons	Double flipper
	Strengths	Manoeuvrability
	Weaknesses	Exposed wheels
From: Goonbell, St Agnes
Team Members: Terry Carlin, Michael Carlin & Andru Blewitt

Veterans

	Axe-C-Dent 2
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.80 x 0.74 x 0.65m
	Power	2 x 52AMP motors
	Weapons	Rotating axe
	Strengths	Destructive weaponry
	Weaknesses	No srimech
From: Gislingham, Suffolk
Team Members: Mel Easton

	Comengetorix
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.93 x 1.33 x 0.82m
	Power	2 x 24V motors
	Weapons	Axe & lifter
	Strengths	Powerful srimech
	Weaknesses	Reliability
From: Wootton, Isle of Wight
Team Members: Ian Gear, Adam Radestock & Bradley Jennings

	Dominator 2 (seeded 6th)
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.60 x 1.30 x 0.80m
	Power	2 x 750W motors
	Weapons	Axe
	Strengths	Powerful axe
	Weaknesses	Uni-directional weaponry
From: Deal, Kent
Team Members: Elliot Smart, Chris Hall & Paul Tolliday

	Hydra
	Weight	99kg
	Dimensions	0.50 x 1.20 x 0.81m
	Power	2 x 750W electric motors
	Weapons	Flipper & sledgehammer
	Strengths	Fast & agile
	Weaknesses	Light armour
From: East Hagbourne, Oxfordshire
Team Members: Dennis Leadbeater & Andrew Leadbeater

	S.M.I.D.S.Y.
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.25 x 1.28 x 0.80m
	Power	2 x 750W motors
	Weapons	Lifter & spinning disc
	Strengths	Strong & agile
	Weaknesses	Reliability
From: Maidstone, Kent
Team Members: Robin Bennett, Mik Reed & Andy Pugh

	Sumpthing
	Weight	95kg
	Dimensions	0.77 x 0.90 x 0.98m
	Power	4 x 800W motors
	Weapons	Axe
	Strengths	Strong armour
	Weaknesses	Unreliable srimech
From: Leicester, Leicestershire
Team Members: Mr. Dig, Paul Bacon & Geoff Germaney

	Warhog
	Weight	100kg
	Dimensions	0.55 x 0.95 x 0.95m
	Power	550W motor
	Weapons	Spinning disc
	Strengths	Lethal weapon
	Weaknesses	High ground clearance
From: Brough, East Yorkshire
Team Members: Dave Marritt, Mark Chalmers & Paul Stevenson

Round 1

Dominator 2 (6) vs Hydra vs Axe-C-Dent 2 vs Sumpthing

Dominator 2 is overturned by Hydra

Sumpthing pushing Dominator 2

This first battle started very quickly with Hydra immediately flipping Axe-C-Dent over. Hydra then went on to flip Dominator 2 over, but unlike Axe-C-Dent, Dominator 2 self-righted.

"It has no srimech, remember, and I think Axe-C-Dent has been immobilised right from the start."

— Jonathan Pearce

Hydra lifts Dominator 2 in the CPZ

Axe-C-Dent 2 after being thrown by the floor flipper

The three remaining robots came together trying to use their axes, but Sumpthing drove into a CPZ and was axed by Shunt. Meanwhile, Dominator 2 was being dominated by Hydra, as Hydra flipped Dominator 2 over again and pushed it into a CPZ, but Dominator 2 escaped. Axe-C-Dent had been righted and was used as target practice for Hydra and Dominator 2's axes. It then appeared that Hydra and Sumpthing had teamed up on Dominator 2 and it was pushed onto the flame pit, but then Sumpthing lost drive in one of its wheels and was counted out, thus putting Dominator 2 and Hydra through to the second round.

Qualified: Dominator 2 & Hydra

S.M.I.D.S.Y. vs Comengetorix vs Warhog vs St. Agro

Comengetorix axes S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Warhog about to destroy the arena wall

Comengetorix clashed with S.M.I.D.S.Y., lifting the Cyberspace robot, but failed to flip it, while Warhog got up to full spinning speed. It rained axe blows down on S.M.I.D.S.Y., pushing it backwards. St. Agro attempted to flip its opponent, but missed, seemingly locking its own flippers open in the process. Comengetorix, still pushing S.M.I.D.S.Y., pushed Warhog into the arena wall. The arena wall was smashed by Warhog's spinning body when pushed into it. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes Warhog into Shunt, which lifted the full-body spinner onto the body of S.M.I.D.S.Y., which briefly offered it a "piggy-back". Warhog fought back against Comengetorix, but the robot from the Isle of Wight sped across the arena, slamming into a CPZ, before impaling itself on the arena wall with its axe. Growler tried to rip it free, but failed, bending Comengetorix's axe sideways. After sustaining this damage, Comengetorix finally retrieved its axe and escaped, very nearly driving into the pit in the process, while even Warhog skirted around the edge of the pit for the second time in the melee.

Comengetorix attaches itself to the arena wall.

S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushes St. Agro into the pit.

Meanwhile, S.M.I.D.S.Y. shoved the defenseless St. Agro into the pit, finally ending the streak of near-misses with the pit, while Comengetorix avoided the House Robots. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Warhog back towards Shunt, which thrust its axe the wok on top of Warhog, and dragged it around.

"It's now free, and it's gone in the pit? No! Very nearly, ooh, and the crowd! Dear, dear, Warhog's almost gone in, and now finally St. Agro's bitten the dust and they've gone in! Dear, oh dear, oh dear."

— Jonathan Pearce struggles to keep up as St. Agro finally goes into the pit after close shaves for both Comengetorix and Warhog

S.M.I.D.S.Y. puts Warhog in the pit.

Comengetorix was pushed into Shunt's CPZ by S.M.I.D.S.Y., but the house robot was still attacking Warhog, so Comengetorix attacked the vulnerable machine as well. S.M.I.D.S.Y. pushed Warhog across the arena, over the flame pit, and into an empty CPZ, and began to lift it. Growler came slamming in, knocking Warhog onto the top of S.M.I.D.S.Y. for a second time, which once again, paraded Warhog around the arena, carrying it all the way to the pit, and dropped it in.

Jonathan Pearce was very animated during this high-action battle, and declared that it must be one of the greatest fights ever in Robot Wars, one that would send S.M.I.D.S.Y. and Comengetorix through to the second round.

Qualified: S.M.I.D.S.Y. & Comengetorix

Round 2

Dominator 2 (6) vs S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Sparks fly as S.M.I.D.S.Y. attacks Dominator.

The battle started quickly with Dominator 2 trying to axe S.M.I.D.S.Y., but S.M.I.D.S.Y. used its greater agility to dodge the axe. Dominator 2 was then pushed into an arena wall by S.M.I.D.S.Y., but Dominator 2 escaped and used its axe again and almost punctured one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s tyres. More pushing ensued until Dominator 2 almost punctured one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s tyres with its axe again. S.M.I.D.S.Y. used its flywheel, but it had little effect on Dominator 2, although this generated many sparks. Both robots then entered a CPZ due to a push from Dominator, and Growler came smashing into both robots and attempted to pin S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Dominator punctures one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s wheels.

"Oh Growler! Look at that, both went into the CPZ and Growler came in with a right, roar ripping shunt."

— Jonathan Pearce on Growler's ferocious drive

This huge attack completely split Dominator 2's baseplate in half, and caused major internal damage to S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Dominator 2 finally managed to puncture one of S.M.I.D.S.Y.'s tyres, but by this time S.M.I.D.S.Y. had slowed down and appeared to have lost drive in one side. It then caught fire from the flame pit just as cease was called, and the Judges chose Dominator 2 to go through.

Winner: Dominator 2

Comengetorix vs Hydra

Hydra pushes Comengetorix back

Comengetorix loses its flipper

Hydra dominated the battle, pushing Comengetorix around the arena and due to the floor being slippery with hydraulic fluid, Comengetorix couldn't get any traction. Hydra overturned Comengetorix several times, getting it on the arena wall at one stage. Comengetorix recovered, but its flipping arm broke off in the process.

Comengetorix grapples onto the insides of Hydra.

"And Hydra, with Dennis and Andrew at the controls, have been very effective, and they have driven Comengetorix almost in submission."

— Jonathan Pearce

In the last 10 seconds of the bout, Comengetorix managed to get its axe into Hydra's inner workings and had a tug-of war towards the flames but the fight ended. The judges decided that Hydra had won the fight due to it being more aggressive.

Winner: Hydra

Final

Dominator 2 (6) vs Hydra

Dominator 2 is flipped by Hydra

Dominator 2 spikes the top of Hydra

The battle started quickly as both robots crashed into each other, but Hydra then flipped Dominator 2 over and pushed it towards the arena wall. The fight slowed down a bit with both robots circling each other until Hydra flipped Dominator 2 again. However Dominator 2 self-righted and went on the attack, peppering Hydra with many axe blows, Hydra then pressed the pit release button.

"Hydra, all of a sudden, does look a little battle weary."

— Jonathan Pearce as Dominator 2 starts to assert itself for the first time

Dominator 2 comes back into the battle

Dominator 2 collects more damage points

Dominator 2's axe then got stuck and Hydra attempted to use its own axe, but it only bounced over Dominator 2's armour. Both robots became unstuck and Hydra seemed to slow right down to a crawl, the battle ended and the judges chose Dominator 2 to go through to the semi-finals.

Heat Winner: Dominator 2

"You don't need spots, or boils, or sores, and you can't wear an anorak, on Robot Wars!"

— Craig Charles' sign-off

Trivia

• This episode was the only occasion in three attempts at the UK championship that Hydra made it past the first round and one of only two occasions that S.M.I.D.S.Y failed to reach the heat final.
• Both heat semi-finals and the heat final went to the judges, something not seen since Heat K of Series 2.
• St. Agro fell in Round 1, making this the only time a robot from Cornwall fought in the main competition without winning its heat.
• This was the last appearance of Team Comengetorix & Team Warhog.
• For the second series in a row, Axe-C-Dent and Sumpthing were in the same heat.