Rebecca Crites, Michael Sana and RG Gleaton battle bots.	Dan Lawall and Curt Collins plot mayhem to one another.
Bill Navolis and Sam Packwood plot their routes.	Bonnie Bogovich, Alicia Coit, and Alexandra Henning program bots.

The race to touch Flag 3 has made it's final appearance at the Lancaster Host. Many were the robots destroyed by falling building debris (a huge cost savings over the use of crushers). Out of the wreckage emerged six to vie for the grand prize. Four of whom were among the most recent visitors to the Final table. But enough about them, yours truly, actually advanced this year, winning the Death Race heat against the defending Champion. Of course, he had already qualified in the first heat, but still... Speaking of the Death Race, I had really hoped this would be a fast heat, and for some it was, but for the majority it was normal in length, with the last table finishing literally on the last hand allowed by our three-hour time limit.

Sadly, my performance in the semifinals was more typical. On my last life I managed to touch the first flag on the same turn the second player (two advanced from each table) touched Flag 3. 

After the overly long Final board of 2014, I decided to make things a little easier. We used all boards from the new Hasbro edition of Roborally. This worked really well. Each flag had more than one person going for it at the same time and the game was fun for all participants. We also finished in just over three hours. The new Champion, Ewan McNay, made one of the best programmed moves I have seen in some time to get the win.

Of note this year, of the four crash and burn awards that should have been given out, one, it turns out was mis-awarded and another was not awarded. In both cases the last death of the robot happened very late in the timeslot. At the first table, the players thought it was too late. I happened to be at the table when their second victim achieved his end, and assuming he was the first of the day we gave him the award. I did not realize until I had received the scoresheet from the table later that they had had an earlier victim. They forgot that I do not allow this award to be given out without making sure everyone in the tournament (and the rest of whatever room we are in) know about it.  During the semifinals, it happened on the last turn in my game, when we realized it, the player had already left the room and was nowhere to be found. 

Another item of note, sadly seven-time champion Brad Johnson was unable to be at the convention this year due to medical issues. We did however send along our best wishes along with a group photo from Heat 3. My personal thanks go out to those who participated in that. Our last word was that everything had gone well and we can expect to see Brad doing the Robo-dance again in 2016.

On a final note. I myself will only be at Seven Springs for part of the week next year as my parents are flying the whole family out to Hawaii for their 50th anniversary, which happens to fall on July 23. As of right now, it is looking like I will not arrive until Thursday. I know … tough luck, but somebody has to do the hula. I am however making arrangements for my assistant GMs (Brad and Mike) to handle things before I arrive, so hopefully there will be no disruption. 

GM Marc Houde heads the table with his six finalists.