posted Mar 23rd, 2007 - Round 3 of the FSL Shamrock Showdown 2007 had quite an impact on the whole competition in many ways. It was the last of the first three rounds that determine the average for each team's handicap in the AAA Class.

The NSL Shugar/O'Connor Handicap system was applied for the prizes of the the Shamrock Showdown's Skins Game. Cash and prizes were assigned to each round, and only the winner after handicap was rewarded. The scoring average after each round was the main factor for the handicap, which was adjusted after each round. The scoring averages after the first three rounds provided the numbers for the calculation of the handicap for Round 4.

Round 3 had a significant impact in both directions for Team Fastrax. It was probably the round where the team lost the competition to Airspeed Odyssey. The new video on NSL-TV shows that Fastrax had a major problem right after the exit.

Judge Pete Allum was obviously able to identify the Satellite as the exit formation but could not see the following Meeker, which did not count as a scoring formation. Then he generously counted the Ritz as a scoring formation, even though Fastrax videographer Steve Redinbo was still quite far away from action.

The 1-point deduction was apparently not the only flaw in the Fastrax system on the first page. The missing video pictures do not really allow the viewer to see what was going on. Fact is that Fastrax was more than three seconds behind the other three top contenders at the end of the first page.

This distance to Airspeed Odyssey and the Golden Knights remained the same once the Fastrax machine was running well, beginning on the second page. However, the damage was already done, and Fastrax lost four points to Airspeed Odyssey only in this round. The Arizona team won the whole 10-round competition by three points over Fastrax.

The low score for Round 3 had a much better result for Fastrax on the other side of the coin.

Fastrax now had the lowest average of the four top contenders after three rounds (Odyssey 68, Golden Knights 68, Groove 64, Fastrax 63), and the situation before the first skin with $150 cash and additional prizes for Round 4 looked promising.

The teams used different ways how to engineer the sequence for Round 3 (O-E-19-5). DeLand Groove and Team Fastrax accepted slot switchers and memory for both pieces, which were caused by the nature of Block 5 (Opal - Opal).

Airspeed Odyssey and the Golden Knights both used the opportunity at the end of Block 19 (Ritz - Icepick) to swing the front piece partners back into their original slots.

Only these teams' rear pieces still had a slot switcher and memory work for two pages.

The swing move won this round. The Golden Knights and Airspeed Odyssey combined for a total of 53 (27 - 26) points, compared to Fastrax and Groove with 46 points (22 - 24). The highscore of the round was posted by the Golden Knights who were now tied with Odyssey in 1st place. The complete Round 3 is now featured on NSL-TV. Enjoy the show and help the NSL with a donation.