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"Coming up: the fight to own one of Robot Wars' most cherished possessions - the Challenge Belt! Eight machines meet, but not to greet, to dash hopes and destroy, to gnash and grind, to mash and melt! To slice and dice and to win through to meet, head-to-head, the reigning holders of the Challenge Belt"
Jonathan Pearce's introduction

The Challenge Belt of Robot Wars Extreme: Series 2 was a competition held during Robot Wars Extreme: Series 2. It followed on from the previous Challenge Belt competition in which Tornado had won two of the three battles it needed to win in order to keep its second belt outright. In this series, eight robots fought it out in a knock-out competition to determine which one would get the chance to give Tornado its third and final challenge for the belt. The episode featuring the Challenge Belt was originally broadcast on January 28, 2003 on BBC Choice and was repeated on September 12, 2003 on BBC Two.


Competing Robots

Challengers

Barberous2EX2
Barber-Ous 2
Weight 100kg
Dimensions 0.49 x 0.71 x 1.18m
Power 2 x 500W electric motors
Weapons Spinning body
Strengths Barbed & dangerous
Weaknesses Plastic construction
From: Horsham, West Sussex
Team Members: Simon Rafferty, Guy Radford & Chris Watts
Dantomkia EXT2
Dantomkia
Weight 100kg
Dimensions 0.36 x 1.20 x 0.80m
Power 2 x 750W motors
Weapons Powerful flipper
Strengths Very agile
Weaknesses Nervous driver
From: Chertsey, Surrey
Team Members: Michael Lambert, Daniel Lambert & Stephen Gadsby
Hypno-Disc
Hypno-Disc
Weight 100kg
Dimensions 0.47 x 1.22 x 0.74m
Power 2 x 750W electric motors
Weapons Flywheel
Strengths Destructive weapon
Weaknesses Low pushing power
From: Banbury, Oxfordshire
Team Members: Dave Rose, Derek Rose & Ken Rose
Iron awe-removebg
Iron-Awe 2
Weight 100kg
Dimensions 0.61 x 1.23 x 0.78m
Power 2 x 800W motors
Weapons Flipper and axe
Strengths Destructive weapons
Weaknesses Easily flipped
From: Langport, Somerset
Team Members: Gilbert Grimm, Robert Grimm & Ian Bilboe
Extreme Sir Chromalot
Sir Chromalot
Weight 100kg
Dimensions 0.38 x 0.69 x 0.60m
Power 750W electric motor
Weapons Pneumatic flipper
Strengths Strong armour
Weaknesses Jonathan Pearce
From: South Ockenden, Essex
Team Members: Steve Merrill & Ray Tait
SMIDSY E2
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 Reliablity
From: Maidstone, Kent
Team Members: Mik Reed, Steve Bennett & Robin Bennett
Terrorhurtz EX2
Terrorhurtz
Weight 99kg
Dimensions 0.50 x 1.25 x 1.05m
Power 2 x 1000W electric motors
Weapons Double headed axe
Strengths Highly aggressive
Weaknesses Unpredictable spasms
From: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Team Members: John Reid, Nicholas Lynch & James Lynch
Vader EX2
Vader
Weight 100kg
Dimensions 0.65 x 1.10 x 1.00m
Power 3 x 800W motors
Weapons Disc, spikes and scoop
Strengths Agility & control
Weaknesses Vulnerable to axe attack
From: Clacton-On-Sea, Essex
Team Members: Paul Rose, Simon Latham & Phillip Calthorpe

Challenge Belt Holder

Tornado EX2
Tornado
Weight 99kg
Dimensions 0.25 x 0.85 x 0.75m
Power 2 x 750W motors
Weapons Interchangeable
Strengths Interchangeable weaponry
Weaknesses Unreliable drive train
From: Sawtry, Cambridgeshire
Team Members: Andrew Marchant, David Gamble & Bryan Moss

Round 1

"Experiences here, S.M.I.D.S.Y., Dantomkia and Hypno-Disc, spinners and slammers, the axes of Terrorhurtz and Iron-Awe, the Barber-Ous's pole, Vader from a space time continnum black hole, and at the end of it all...a Tornado is waiting!"
— Jonathan Pearce

Hypno-Disc vs S.M.I.D.S.Y. vs Dantomkia vs Sir Chromalot

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound1.1

Hypno-Disc, stuck on the arena wall

Dantomkia flips hypno-disc

Hypno-Disc is flipped out of the arena.

Dantomkia attacked S.M.I.D.S.Y. first, as Hypno-Disc attacked the side of the same machine, but merely bounced off. Dantomkia then turned on Hypno-Disc, one flip turning it onto its back, the second toppling it out of the arena. Mr. Psycho then pinned Dantomkia in the CPZ for a while, but eventually freed it.

"Very good steering from Steve Merrill and Ray Tait, basically what they're doing, ladies and gentlemen, is running away, they're just running away from trouble"
— Jonathan Pearce spots an opportunity to reignite his rivalry with the Sir Chromalot team
Dantomkia vs SMIDSY

Dantomkia flips S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Meanwhile, S.M.I.D.S.Y. had pressed the pit release button, and, after a few seconds of dodging, Dantomkia flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y. and overturned it, whilst Sir Chromalot dodged trouble, but was eventually caught by Dantomkia and S.M.I.D.S.Y. and flipped, but not overturned. S.M.I.D.S.Y was flipped again, but Sir Chromalot was moving slowly temporarily. Dantomkia then flipped S.M.I.D.S.Y. again, leaving it beached it on the arena wall, and turned on Sir Chromalot again, throwing it over in the CPZ. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was picked up, but ultimately freed from the wall by Mr. Psycho. Sir Chromalot, meanwhile, was unable to escape from the CPZ, sustaining severe damage from Matilda before being flung out of the arena by her flywheel. S.M.I.D.S.Y., after pressure from Mr. Psycho, lost drive on one side, before breaking down altogether, but it had already qualified for the next round.

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound1.1

Sir Chromalot is thrown back to the entry gates

Before the fight ended, Dantomkia proceeded to flip S.M.I.D.S.Y. out of the arena, but this was not shown on the televised airing.[1]

"They do great dinners here."
— Solace for Steve Merrill

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

Barber-Ous 2 vs Vader vs Terrorhurtz vs Iron-Awe 2

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound1.2

The four robots battle (note the damage to Iron-Awe 2)

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound1.2

Iron-Awe 2 is dragged over by the weight of Barber-Ous 2

Terrorhurtz was the first robot to show its hand, attacking Vader with its powerful axe. Iron-Awe then attacked Terrorhurtz, flicking it into the air, but failing to overturn it. Barber-Ous 2 then threw Iron-Awe 2 over with its spinning barber's pole weapon, however Iron-Awe 2 self-righted. Vader was then pinned by the two axes of Terrorhurtz and Shunt, also wedging Iron-Awe 2 in, allowing Barber-Ous 2 to attack without retaliation. Combined attacks from Shunt and Terrorhurtz eventually immobilised Vader, before Terrorhurtz and Iron-Awe proceeded to attack Barber-Ous 2 with their axes. Terrorhurtz then hit the pit release button, whilst Iron-Awe 2 attacked the smoking Barber-Ous 2 alone and Vader was counted out.

"Oh, Vader being counted out! I didn't see that coming!"
Jonathan Pearce
Vader out

Vader sits outside the arena

Terrorhurtz vs Barber-Ous

Terrorhurtz pits an immobile Barber-Ous 2

Iron-Awe 2 then flipped Barber-Ous 2, but ended up balancing on its rear after Barber-Ous 2 remained stuck in its axe. Terrorhurtz attacked Barber-Ous 2 as Iron-Awe 2 threw itself onto its back, with both it and Barber-Ous 2 still stuck together while Vader was thrown out of the arena by Matilda's flywheel. Once freed, Iron-Awe 2 was left unable to self-right and Barber-Ous 2 lay immobile, the latter being pitted by Terrorhurtz. With Terrorhurtz being the last robot still mobile, the judges were called to determine which other competitor would progress with it.

"Definitely through, Terrorhurtz, we know that, that's all we know!"
— Jonathan Pearce

The Judges ruled that Barber-Ous 2 was immobilised before Iron-Awe 2 was turned over, allowing Iron-Awe 2 through to the next round along with Terrorhurtz.

Qualified: Terrorhurtz & Iron-Awe 2

Round 2

Dantomkia vs Iron-Awe 2

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound2.1

Iron-Awe 2 wedges itself under the floor spinner

Ironawe vs dantomkia

Iron-Awe misses with the axe

Dantomkia vs Iron-Awe 2

Dantomkia throws Iron-Awe 2 out

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound2.1

Iron-Awe 2 sits outside the arena

Iron-Awe 2's ground clearance had been lowered before the battle, in an attempt to breach Dantomkia's front wedges. However, this resulted in Iron-Awe 2 getting stuck under the Floor Spinner as the battle started, with the two robots meeting in the centre of the arena and Dantomkia temporarily getting underneath Iron-Awe 2. Iron-Awe 2 spun away before the two robots pushed against each other, Iron-Awe 2 missing a few axe blows as it avoided Dantomkia for a few seconds. Eventually, Dantomkia got underneath Iron-Awe 2, pushed it towards the entry gates, and flipped it out of the arena.

"Dantomkia, still in explosive form!"
— Craig Charles, post battle

Winner: Dantomkia

S.M.I.D.S.Y. vs Terrorhurtz

Terrorhurtz vs SMIDSY

Terrorhurtz immobilises S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound2.2

Terrorhurtz lands further axe blows on S.M.I.D.S.Y.

Ex2ChallengeBeltRound2.2

The heavily-damaged S.M.I.D.S.Y.

SMIDSY pit

S.M.I.D.S.Y. is pitted by Sir Killalot

S.M.I.D.S.Y. took an axe blow from Terrorhurtz, and then darted away to the pit release button. However, it was caught and battered by Terrorhurtz, sustaining damage to its right-rear corner and losing drive to one side. Terrorhurtz continued axing S.M.I.D.S.Y. until the latter became immobilised, and was counted out by Refbot. Sir Killalot and Dead Metal came in to attack S.M.I.D.S.Y., with Sir Killalot putting it on the Floor Flipper, where S.M.I.D.S.Y. was flung and landed hard on the other side of the arena. S.M.I.D.S.Y. was then pitted by Sir Killalot, leaving Terrorhurtz as the clear winner.

Craig Charles: "Anything to say?"
Robin Bennett: "Ouch!"
— Post-battle

Winner: Terrorhurtz

Final

Dantomkia vs Terrorhurtz

Dantomkia vs Terrorhurtz

Dantomkia thrusts Terrorhurtz over

Terrorhurtz vs Dantomkia

Terrorhurtz batters the immobile Dantomkia

Terrorhurtz started by axing Dantomkia multiple times, as Dantomkia struggled to get underneath it. Eventually, Dantomkia got underneath Terrorhurtz, but missed when firing the flipper, and flipped it completely over on its second attempt.

"Big thanks to Shunt for getting in the way there!"
— John Reid, post-battle
THZvsDTK

Terrorhurtz pushes Dantomkia into the pit

Terrorhurtz self-righted almost immediately, but was again flipped by Dantomkia into Shunt's CPZ, taking a long time to self-right. It escaped quickly as soon as it was able to, and repeatedly axed Dantomkia once again, causing damage to its top armour and eventually immobilising it. Terrorhurtz then nudged the pit release button as Refbot checked the immobile Dantomkia, before pushing Dantomkia into the pit and putting it in contention for the Challenge Belt.

Winner: Terrorhurtz

Challenge

Tornado vs Terrorhurtz

Tornado terrorhurtz

Tornado rams Terrorhurtz into the wall

Ex2ChallengeBeltChallenge

Terrorhurtz is pitted

Tornado immediately pushed Terrorhurtz against the arena wall, receiving a glancing axe blow from Terrorhurtz before rushing straight to the pit release button. With a powerful shove, it got underneath Terrorhurtz and dumped it into the pit, successfully defending its Challenge Belt once again. This was the ninth shortest battle in the UK Robot Wars.

"You can chop all day, but you can't change your fate."
— Jonathan Pearce, as Terrorhurtz was pitted

Challenge Belt Holder: Tornado

"They've taken on all comers, they've settled old scores, and they even get to keep the belt, on Robot Wars!"
— Craig Charles' sign-off
Challenge Belt Team Tornado

Team Tornado celebrate confirmation of their second Challenge Belt

Trivia

  • This episode contained four cases of a robot being Thrown Out of the Arena, the most in a single episode at that point.
  • Iron-Awe 2 was thrown out for the second time in its existence, making it the only robot to appear more than once, but be thrown out on all appearances. However, if one counts Iron-Awe 2.1, it was not flipped out of the arena in the Seventh Wars.
  • This episode marked the final appearance of Hypno-Disc and Sir Chromalot.
  • The Challenge between Tornado and Terrorhurtz lasted nineteen seconds, making it equal 9th in the Shortest Battles in UK Robot Wars.
  • The Final between Dantomkia and Terrorhurtz was a grudge match from earlier in Extreme 2, with Terrorhurtz winning to tie the grudge at 1-1.
  • The Challenge between Tornado and Terrorhurtz was a grudge match from earlier in Extreme 2, with Tornado defeating Terrorhurtz for the second and last time.
  • This was the only Extreme 2 event from which all the robots had competed in Series 6 (barring the All-Stars which was inherently so).
  • In this episode, announcer Stuart McDonald pronounced Dantomkia correctly, a break of tradition, but mispronounced Sir Chromalot as Sir Chomp-a-lot, having correctly pronounced the name for over three years previously.
  • Challenge Belt was the last tournament filmed for Extreme 2, and therefore the last episode produced for BBC Two before Robot Wars moved to Five.[2]
  • Andrew Marchant confirmed cut footage from Tornado's fight with Terrorhurtz, where Tornado attacked the house robots following cease being called. The pit was then raised to allow Terrorhurtz to escape, but it had already used too much energy attempting to clamber out of the pit, so the impromptu encore came to a halt.[3]

References

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