- "When I was a nipper, I remember listening to John Lennon singing Give Peace A Chance. Unfortunately, I thought he said Give Peas A Chance. So ever since, I’ve been bashing the living daylight out of anyone who doesn’t like mangetout. But it’s hard to be a pacifist; the only peace demonstration I ever went to was so peaceful, I was the only one there! And even Buddhist monks get niggled when someone nicks their razor. Which is why on Robot Wars we’ve come to a compromise: OK, there’s nothing like a bit of good old fashioned scrappin’, but we let the robots do it instead! We’re not stupid!"
- — Craig Charles' introduction
Heat I of Robot Wars: The Third Wars was the ninth of sixteen heats which determined the Semi-Finalists of Robot Wars: The Third Wars. The episode featuring Heat I was originally broadcast on February 11, 2000 on BBC Two. The broadcast managed to attract 5.22 million viewers, a decrease of 1.41 million viewers when compared with the previous episode. According to BARB, this meant it ranked first in the top thirty highest rated BBC 2 broadcasts during 7-13 February, the second consecutive Series 3 episode to do so.
Competing Robots
Newcomers
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Armour Geddon | ||
| Weight | 80.4kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.37 x 0.62 x 0.88m | |
| Clearance | 0.00m | |
| Power | 2 x 24V Wheelchair Motors | |
| Weapons | Spike Covered Arm | |
| Notes | Build Time: 8 Weeks | |
| From: Huntingdon | ||
| Team Members: Tom Collins, Jonathan Freeman, Donald Wright | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Invertabrat | ||
| Weight | 78.6kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.36 x 1.40 x 0.52m | |
| Clearance | 0.06m | |
| Power | 2 x Wheelchair Motors | |
| Weapons | Flipper & Cutter | |
| Notes | Steel Monocoque Shell | |
| From: Surrey | ||
| Team Members: Peter Bignall, Les Wall, David Wall | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Terrorpin | ||
| Weight | 79.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.83 x 0.83 x 0.83m | |
| Clearance | 0.05m | |
| Power | 2 x 750W Electric Motors | |
| Weapons | Spike Punch | |
| Notes | Shell Conceals Weapons | |
| From: Oxfordshire | ||
| Team Members: Keith Jones, Rob Field, Brian Snelling | ||
Veterans
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Beast of Bodmin | ||
| Weight | 79.0kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.60 x 1.34 x 0.90m | |
| Clearance | 0.01m | |
| Power | 3 x Motors | |
| Weapons | Circular Saw & Tusk | |
| Notes | Large Animated Eyes | |
| From: Cornwall | ||
| Team Members: Chris Kinsey, Peter Kinsey, Hender Blewett | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Crusher | ||
| Weight | 65.2kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.53 x 0.94 x 0.69m | |
| Clearance | 0.02m | |
| Power | 2 x 24V Wheelchair Motors | |
| Weapons | Hydraulic Crusher | |
| Notes | Cost £700 | |
| From: Bedford | ||
| Team Members: Oliver Brown, Adam Pengilly, Philip West | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Onslaught | ||
| Weight | 79.2kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.33 x 1.05 x 0.57m | |
| Clearance | Variable | |
| Power | 1 x Forklift Motor | |
| Weapons | 2 x CO2 Powered Rams | |
| Notes | Cost £1,000 | |
| From: Bedford | ||
| Team Members: Alan Wood, David Wood, Peter Holland | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| The Witch | ||
| Weight | 88.3kg | |
| Dimensions | 1.36 x 1.65 x 1.0m | |
| Clearance | 0.08m | |
| Power | 4 x 12V American Pump Motors | |
| Weapons | Lethal Steel Pike | |
| Notes | Nitrous Gas Powered | |
| From: Kettering | ||
| Team Members: Ozzy Boulter, Emma Boulter | ||
 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vercingetorix | ||
| Weight | 79.2kg | |
| Dimensions | 0.36 x 1.28 x 0.90m | |
| Clearance | 0.00 - 0.02m | |
| Power | 2 x 24V Wheelchair Motors | |
| Weapons | Flipper & Tail Spike | |
| Notes | Titanium Clad Body Shell | |
| From: The Isle of Wight | ||
| Team Members: Ian Gear, Nigel Radstocke, Alistair Curtis-Horsefall | ||
Round 1
Onslaught vs Armour Geddon
Onslaught pushes Armour Geddon
Onslaught started the quicker, slamming head on into Armour Geddon and angling it towards Sergeant Bash's CPZ. Armour Geddon ambled away, but Onslaught reversed, attempting to pin Armour Geddon in, before readjusting slightly and forcing Armour Geddon into Bash. Armour Geddon got away again, but was still struggling for movement near the arena wall.
- "Onslaught's doing all the work here."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Armour Geddon is rolled into the Pit
Armour Geddon finally made its way towards the centre of the arena and spun on the spot. It then drifted over towards the pit, and as it attempted to move away from it, it swung its arm backwards, pinning itself onto the edge of the pit. Onslaught tried to push Armour Geddon into the pit, but struggled to line itself up properly, and as a result didn't manage to cause Armour Geddon any further problems. Matilda finally nudged Armour Geddon free, who made its way to the centre of the arena once more. Onslaught halted their progress and then bowled them back from where they came, with Armour Geddon rolling into the pit of oblivion.
- "Armour Geddon, roly, roly poly, and, roly out, into the pit."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Winner: Onslaught
Crusher vs Beast of Bodmin
Crusher bites into Beast of Bodmin
Beast of Bodmin made its way towards Crusher, but it failed to line itself up properly and went side on into Crusher's Razer-esque claw, which crumpled down, into it. Crusher continued to hold Beast of Bodmin, and sunk its claw into it again before Beast of Bodmin escaped. Beast of Bodmin clashed with Crusher side by side, before they spun and planted themselves onto Crusher's front scoop again, who plunged into Beast of Bodmin once more.
Crusher loses a track
- "All the early damage done to Beast of Bodmin."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Beast of Bodmin wriggled away again before jabbing away at Crusher's side - one of Crusher's tracks broke off, immobilising it. Crusher got sliced by Dead Metal, and Beast of Bodmin went through.
Winner: Beast of Bodmin
Vercingetorix vs Terrorpin
Vercingetorix slides underneath Terrorpin
Vercingetorix got underneath Terrorpin's rather high ground clearance and got both of them close to Sergeant Bash. Terrorpin escaped after Bash intervened, and then attempted to use the punching head, but couldn't make contact with their opponent. Both robots moved away from each other, before Terrorpin made its way towards Vercingetorix once more, slamming into it side on. Terrorpin angled away, before coming onto the attack again, but nearly drove into the pit.
- "Ooh, Terrorpin nearly in a deep, deep pond."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Vercingetorix sustains damage from Shunt
Terrorpin then drove into Matilda's CPZ, with the House Robot lifting it temporarily. Vercingetorix came in and pinned Terrorpin against the arena wall before Shunt came in to separate the two. Vercingetorix moved away first, and with its rear end facing Terrorpin, the latter rammed into the back of Vercingetorix and in towards Shunt, who axed it repeatedly.
- "Vercingetorix being pushed onto Shunt, and that horrible blade coming slamming down."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Terrorpin pits Vercingetorix
Terrorpin continued to pressurise Vercingetorix, giving it little room to breathe in and forcing it down into the pit, but not before it ended up getting wedged between the pit edge, causing it to hang precariously over the edge until "Cease" was called.
- "Vercingetorix was first to fall. What a surprise that is. That's a stunner!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Winner: Terrorpin
Invertabrat vs The Witch
Invertabrat lifts the Witch
The battle started with the two robots bumping into each other. Invertabrat then temporarily struggled for movement which allowed The Witch to slam into the back of it. The two danced around each other for a short period, with The Witch drifting into Sergeant Bash's CPZ in the process. As The Witch attempted to escape, Invertabrat flicked The Witch up. The Witch retreated, hitting the arena wall while doing so.
- "We haven't seen that lethal, steel spike yet."
- — Jonathan Pearce on The Witch's weaponry
Dead Metal cuts into The Witch
Both robots circled each other again, before Invertabrat barged into The Witch a couple of times. The action drifted over towards Bash's CPZ once more, where both robots got into trouble temporarily. After this, The Witch stopped moving; Invertabrat came in and attacked The Witch with a stream of flicks from its weapon, before the House Robots came in, with Dead Metal slicing into the base.
Winner: Invertabrat
Round 2
Terrorpin vs Invertabrat
The two machines become locked together
Invertabrat started the slower, struggling to get away from the arena wall. Terrorpin slammed into Invertabrat and moved it around slightly, with Invertabrat's weaponry getting jammed high into Terrorpin.
- "They've got themselves stuck there, on the front of Terrorpin. Is it a worthy tactic being used by Invertabrat or does Terrorpin now have them impaled, in which case, Terrorpin, here, could nudge Invertabrat towards a pit, but it's not happening"
- — Jonathan Pearce as the tangle between the two robots occurs
Invertabrat lifts Terrorpin
Terrorpin attempted to untangle the two by moving around the arena, but failed to do so. Shunt came in and nudged them, but also failed to defuse the situation. Finally, a touch from Sir Killalot sorted the trouble out. Terrorpin continued to hang around Killalot, but then retreated. Both robots strolled around in the centre of the arena, with a couple of small clashes. Invertabrat was forced over towards Killalot, but got away quickly. The nudging match continued, until Invertabrat managed to flick Terrorpin up. They attempted to guide Terrorpin into Dead Metal's CPZ, but couldn't get the sufficient purchase on the arena floor to be able to do so. Terrorpin backed away, with Invertabrat still hanging around in Dead Metal's CPZ. The House Robot finally clutched onto it after a short scuffle, and dragged it across the arena, onto a set of arena spikes, and then cut into it.
Dead Metal erroneously reverses into the Pit
- "And in comes the circular saw, and Invertabrat's in real trouble now!"
- — Jonathan Pearce
Invertabrat escaped and continued to jostle with Terrorpin, while Dead Metal removed itself away from the action, before turning and reversing itself into the pit.
- "Ooh, Dead Metal, great stuff! Yes! In the pit! Oh dear! Super stuff!"
- — Jonathan Pearce expresses his amusement at the House Robot's error
Terrorpin shoved Invertabrat again, attempting to impale it onto the arena spikes, but failed to do so. Terrorpin continued to chase after Invertabrat, who evaded its opponent with relative ease. As the clock ticked down, Terrorpin got stuck onto the arena spikes, and cease was called. The judges gave Invertabrat the win.
Winner: Invertabrat
Onslaught vs Beast of Bodmin
Onslaught lifts Beast of Bodmin
Onslaught is toppled by Beast of Bodmin
This was a rematch from the Second Wars, where Onslaught lost to Roadblock in the Heat Final. Onslaught started in a typically nippy fashion, whizzing around Beast of Bodmin. After a short time, in which Onslaught drove over the flame pit, the two clashed side on.
- "Onslaught has the speed to get away from trouble, here."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Onslaught backed away slightly and lifted Beast of Bodmin slightly, but didn't have sufficient purchase to be able to truly threaten its opponent. Onslaught backed away again, looking to line up an opportunity to attack, before skipping past Beast of Bodmin and its back end. Onslaught got underneath Beast of Bodmin once more, but even with better purchase on its opponent, still struggled to lift it significantly. The two then circled around side by side before separating.
Beast of Bodmin cheekily celebrates its victory
Dead Metal slices into Onslaught
- "Around the arena floor, Onslaught leading the Beast of Bodmin a merry dance."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Onslaught continued to scuttle around the arena before driving up the side of the wedge of Beast of Bodmin and rolling over (prompting Beast Of Bodmin to wink for the camera). Dead Metal came in on Onslaught, slicing it badly.
Winner: Beast of Bodmin
Heat Final
Invertabrat vs Beast of Bodmin
Invertabrat lifts Beast of Bodmin
Invertabrat started by turning into the arena wall again, before the two clashed. Invertabrat got underneath the front of Beast of Bodmin slightly and used its weapon to attempt to flick its opponent, but missed. Invertabrat tried again though, and this time lifted Beast of Bodmin, driving it towards Matilda's CPZ.
- "Invertabrat getting those claws in underneath the Beast of Bodmin, to drag it away, towards Matilda. A real beast in her own right..."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Beast of Bodmin slides Invertabrat backwards
The House Robot came in, but only separated the two, with Beast of Bodmin suffering no further trouble. The two robots locked with each other shortly after, and as Beast of Bodmin reversed, Invertabrat lifted them up again. This time, the bottom of Invertabrat's weapon got stuck on the arena floor, so they had to retract it. Beast of Bodmin finally managed to shove Invertabrat slightly, but the latter slid off the wedge of Beast of Bodmin. After a short period of locked horns, Beast of Bodmin angled Invertabrat into Matilda. Invertabrat struggled to escape the set of arena spikes just outside the CPZ, and Beast of Bodmin continued to pressurise, guiding it into an arena flame jet. Invertabrat was struggling for mobility at this stage, and circled around.
Dead Metal punishes the beaten Invertabrat
- "The Beast of Bodmin, just like Roadblock - winners of the first series, underrated, here, and very dangerous."
- — Jonathan Pearce
Invertabrat was edged towards Matilda once more, with one of Matilda's tusks falling off as the House Robot attacked. Her shell popped up as well, but fell back into place shortly after. Invertabrat was still struggling to move, so Dead Metal came in and sliced into them, confirming Beast of Bodmin as winners.
Heat Winner: Beast of Bodmin
- "Now stand well back, keep your pets indoors, there's always fireworks, on Robot Wars!"
- — Craig Charles signs off
Special Event
Shunt sets on Killerhurtz
Between Round 1 and Round 2 of each heat, a Special Event or Trial took place. For Heat I, it was the fifth Pinball Warrior run, featuring Killerhurtz.
Score: 60 points
Trivia
- Heat I was the first of three Series 3 heats to feature more veterans than newcomers, the others being Heat N and Heat O.
| ||||||||||||||