The Golden Axe series is highly renowned, however, owing to its Asia only release, the third instalment is often the forgotten game in the trilogy. Golden Axe 3 is much the same as its predecessors. It is a hack and slash game where players fight hordes of enemies in order to retrieve the Golden Axe from another final boss who has taken upon himself to steel the damn thing - a very original story line. For tournamental purposes, this is largely irrelevant. Members will go head-to-head in a knockout. A health bar replaces the ten bars of the previous two games and, as a result, duels are much quicker. Gone are the three familiar warriors from the earlier games, with Tyris Flair, Gilius Thunderhead and Ax Battler (or Hannah, Jimmy and Mike as they are affectionately known) replaced with the option of five fighters: two characters are very similar to Tyris Flair and Ax Battler, there is a giant - albeit a very small giant, a puma-man and a giant eagle. The fighting dynamics have also been tweaked slightly to include blocks, low attacks and each character has their own projectile "special move".

While the Challenge has historically employed a qualification system (namely the top four ranking members from divisions one and two) the benevolent Administration have decided to open the Golden Axe 3 Challenge to all members at the Twentieth Championship. In recent tournaments the Challenge has evolved from the rump contest of the championships to an exciting event anticipated by members and it is believed Golden Axe 3 will continue the trend established by Elitserien '96 and Sonic the Hedgehog. With roots stretching back as far as the Twelfth Mega Drive Championship, the Challenge has been the tournament competition that has been tinkered with the most and is now wholly different from the Super Street Fighter 2 warm-up that preceded the Twelfth and Thirteenth Championships...

THE GOLDEN LEAF SUPER CUP (14th Tournament)

The Street Fighter Challenge was upgraded to a full competition at the Fourteenth Mega Drive Championship. The original concept was to have the challenge competition format used in the previous two tournaments and extend it to Division Two, with the members in the lower league playing their own version: the Eternal Champions Challenge. Two trophies were purchased for the competitions, however, very late on it was decided that the winner of both challenges should qualify play each other in the Golden Leaf Super Cup, originally intended to be a tie on Golden Axe 2 the game was altered to Super Street Fighter 2 at the eleventh hour. Lord Dilks won the competition against surprise finalist, Dame Yada.

THE CHALLENGE TROPHY (15th - 17th Tournament)

The Street Fighter Challenge, Eternal Champions Challenge and the Golden Leaf Super Cup were amalgamated before the Fifteenth Mega Drive Championship to become part of one larger competition - The Challenge Trophy. It was decided to limit the number of members taking part in the Challenge Trophy to just eight, four from each division, with qualification based on league performance at the previous Mega Drive Championship. Minor alterations included the addition of a third-place play-off on Eternal Champions and the entire competition being played at the beginning of each tournament to reflect the warm up concept of the original Street Fighter Challenge. Lord Dilks won the Challenge Trophy twice in its three tournament history with Commander Graham winning at the Sixteenth Tournament.

Soon to be joining the tomes of Mega Drive Championshipary history, Golden Axe 3 will see the individual focus continue, albeit not with the same pressure expected as was felt during the Sonic the Hedgehog Challenge. Members will look to beat their opponent over one round else they will be eliminated from the competition. Which member will secure that final blow to claim victory in the Challenge? Will those from Division Two be able to upset to odds by beating their higher league opponents? Will Earl Holbrook play a tactical game or just bash buttons in the hope of victory? The answers to these questions will be resolved on Sunday 19th July!