Scorching showdown sees Suboptical surge to success

Phew - what a scorcher.

The Makerspace arena was roasting – a full‑on summer heatwave collided with welding sparks. Eight pint‑sized bots clashed in true Beetleweight fashion for the second annual CEB Robot Club tournament.

In the end, Muriel’s thagomiser Suboptical shredded its way past Major Danger to claim the 2025 crown.

Suboptical’s secret? Meticulous CAD designs, 3D‑printed reinforcements and a knack for devouring tyres, all piloted with the calm of someone who has spent countless late nights troubleshooting circuit boards under pressure. Major Danger, built by newcomers Anna, Tom and Jessica, landed blistering drum hits and took home best‑engineered, but its exposed drive belt could not hold out against the power of Muriel's Suboptical.

Makerspace manager Josh Easy put it best: “This isn’t just robot combat – it’s a rolling engineering bootcamp.” From laser cutting to time‑management under steamy conditions, every competitor walked away with skills far beyond a smashed chassis.

Other highlights:

• Best newcomer: Andrew and Cat’s Grab Crab – whose suplex‑style takedowns had the crowd on its feet
• Crowd favourite: Alastair and Lewis’s cheeky DeuxBrie – a nod to last year’s champion Debrie and a masterstroke of cheesy punning
• Spirit award: Pink Pwny Club’s Bottogo – the little drum spinner that simply refused to quit, even upside‑down

“Designing a Beetleweight from scratch is no picnic,” Josh reminded us. “Be proud – this club builds more than bots. it builds confidence, creativity and a community of future innovators.” He has called a de‑brief (or perhaps a deux-brief) next week to gather feedback.

Heat, sparks and all, the CEB Robot Club proved once more that its real victory lies in the innovative spirit it sparks. Here’s to next year’s mayhem and new teams bringing their best ideas.