Founded in October 2010, Cardiff Roller Collective (CRoC) were originally an all-female flat track roller derby league in Cardiff, South Wales. They are now actively involved in several roller sports including roller hockey, artistic roller skating and mens roller derby. Their mission is to actively provide and sustain an environment in which courage, mental acumen, and respect are developed and fostered in tandem with vitality, athletic ability and physical strength, through the spirit of good sportsmanship.

Through the sport of Roller Derby and the UKRDA, CRoC aims to empower women by challenging team members’ personal growth both on and off the track. They also actively encourage men into what is currently a female orientated/dominated sport.

They also support our referees, coaches and NSOs (Non-Skating Officials) through training events and bootcamps to improve their knowledge to continue to support their league and provide support at events to other leagues across the UK continuing the growth in local roller derby across the UK and beyond.

CRoC are committed to low carbon skating! Their team uniform is multicoloured but they are doing everything they can to be green.

For more information visit: http://www.cardiffrollercollective.com/

Cardiff Roller Collective are a registered charity: 1143708

Actually, we passed it a couple months ago but have been so busy with our internal projects (stay tuned for more news!) that we forgot to announce it!

UKRDA now represents almost 1500 roller derby participants; the large majority of whom are women, however this is slowly changing.

The list of represented leagues is growing and we have new leagues applying every month.

Now, can we make it 2500 by the end of the year? Leagues – keep your applications coming in and we just might!

Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Formed: March 2007
Number of Members: 80

What brought on your recent rebrand?
After five amazing years of roller derby here at Glasgow Roller Girls we decided it was time for a change and what better way to do this than with an awesome new look to celebrate. We feel that as Glasgow Roller Derby (GRD) we are spreading our wings as a league and the new look signifies our development, inclusiveness and commitment to the sport and its future as we look forward to the next five years and beyond.

How many teams do you have?
Two travel teams, the Irn Bruisers, our All Star travel team who comprise our WFTDA charter skaters, and the Maiden Grrders, our up-and-coming All Star reserves. We also have our third home teams season, starting this summer. Reigning champions the Death Stars will be taking on tough competition from the Hells Belles and first season winners the Bad Omens.

What have you got coming up?
On 24^th March our Maiden Grrders are heading south to play Newcastle and then it’s a double header at home with Stockholm in April. It’s the second international bout of the season after the Irn Bruisers took on the might of Berlin Bombshells on 10^th March. In May, at our new larger venue the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena, our travel teams play Paris and Dundee. In June our All Star team will be travelling to Sweden to play Crime City and then the following day will be going across the water to compete against Copenhagen. GRD are also very excited to be hosting our first tournament in August comprising several of the top UK and European teams.

What has been your proudest moment?
Taking third place at the first European tournament, Roll Britannia, will always be a proud moment for the league. Also being accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Apprentice programme came through a great deal of hard work from many dedicated skaters in the league. More recently being selected to compete in the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA) exhibition tournament at Tattoo Freeze, and taking third place, was a great moment.

Where next, then?
Short term we are looking to graduate to become a full WFTDA member league. Longer term our aims as we move forward are to develop skills across the league through our home season, play internationally for our WFTDA rankings and continue to push to be the best we can be!

What makes your league tick?
GRD has always been a very forward-looking league and it’s this drive to continually progress which trickles down from league training to new skaters at Glasgow Roller Recruits. There is a place for everyone at GRD whether that is a top travel team skater, a referee, a newly skills passed skater or a core member of our awesome NSO team.
We are a democratic league and work together for the best of the club. We succeed and fail as a team and to us that’s not failing at all.

What is your wish for UK Derby?
As a founder member of UKRDA we are excited about the growth and development of the organisation and its aims for our sport in the future. The recent exhibition tournament was a great success and showed how a ranking system could work for its members.

As a member of WFTDA we also look forward to a new European region in 2013.

http://twitter.com/#!/WeAreGRD

http://www.facebook.com/GlasgowRollerDerby

http://glasgowrollerderby.com/

A 5 minute piece, featuring a busy all-abilities practice, a victorious bout and interviews with players and coaches aired on Saturday 17th March, Sky Sports News channel 405, hourly between 6am and 11am went up on the Sky Sports News website shortly thereafter.

League Founder Marie Melvin and some of her Windsor team mates speak about derby – tune in at Sky Sports News (sky sports)

The Rainy City Roller Girls are an established all-female full contact roller derby league. Founded in Greater Manchester in 2008, they have gone from strength to strength, bouting regularly against the top teams in the UK. In September, they opened a new training and bouting venue in Oldham, and have forged strong links with the local sports and physical activity organisations.

Their vision for the future is to be ranked as one of the best in Europe. They have a wealth of experience amongst their ranks, including Team England squad players Missy Rascal and Dee-Mise, and are incredibly lucky to have some extremely talented coaches and an impeccable referee/officiating crew to help them become better skaters and grow as a team. When asked about team ethos, Cleo has this to say “We believe that by working together and constantly developing ourselves and our team, that we can achieve our dream.”

They are always looking for ways to grow their league, and make roller derby accessible to more people. They hold a weekly New Skaters session where anyone over the age of 18 can come and give roller derby a try and also run bootcamps and private coaching sessions to help newer leagues grow and develop.

“We are tremendously excited and honoured to be part of the UKRDA, and look forward to working with other leagues to continue championing our sport, and to spread a positive message about roller derby far and wide.” Said Cleo.

To see a snapshot of them in action, check out this video.

Contact Details

To get in touch, or find out more, visit www.rcrg.co.uk

Kent Roller Girls was formed in 2010, with their first practice taking place in July of that year. The league is currently the only one in the county of Kent and trainings are spread across the county to try to incorporate as many interested people as possible. We are a ‘by the skaters for the skaters’ league as most in the UK are, and we encourage all our members to be involved with molding the league and helping it to achieve its short and long term goals.
The league has steadily grown over the last year with the help of Team Captain Demi Lition’s expertise and knowledge gained during her time as a Leeds Roller Doll. The league also received huge support from the established derby community, something KRG is eternally grateful for, the help received allowed us to grow as a team and feel a part of the family that is UK derby.
KRG had their first public bout in September of 2011 hosted by the Seaside Sirens, this bout signified the end goal of all the leagues hard work over its first year, a difficult time for all leagues. Many KRG skaters have also been given the opportunity to guest skate with other leagues, which has been a great learning experience.
The league currently has 1 travel team but are hoping to form an A and a B team towards the end of 2012 thanks to our new intake. KRG is currently half way through our first ‘fresh meat’ program; which has proven to be hugely popular for both prospective players and referees.
We are hugely honored to become members of the UKRDA and we hope to work with them and the league members to promote Roller Derby across the United Kingdom. We also hope to support all leagues across the UK in the same way that we have been supported.
For more information please visit www.kentrollergirls.com

A referee from a Birmingham roller derby league has made UKRDA history by becoming the first man to represent his league at the organisation.

Major Travis T, who is affiliated to Central City Rollergirls, joins existing CCR reps Nancy Spinatra and Germaine Leer. He said, “Whilst I might not be a player, I think that it’s important that there is a voice present from the other side of the track. In order for UKRDA and UK roller derby to be successful, the standards of the officials working the games need to be of the highest quality.”

Although roller derby is a predominantly female sport, men’s derby has grown in popularity in the UK during 2011, and UKRDA is open to women’s, men’s, or co-ed adult leagues, and encourages diversity.

Nancy Spinatra, who is also the organisation’s president, said she is pleased to have Travis on board. “Roller derby is a sport for male and female skaters, refs and NSO’s, and Travis brings with him a wealth of ref, coaching and skating experience both from UK and International roller derby that can now be shared with all UKRDA members.”

Travis recently refereed at the first roller derby world cup in Toronto, and although the UKRDA encourages all women’s leagues in the UK to join WFTDA, he believes UK leagues also need their own official body. “Although WFTDA is driving the sport internationally, there are a lot of UK leagues that aren’t ready to become WFTDA apprentices yet, but still need the guidance of a national governing body to develop.”

“I hope to help progress the standard of officiating within the UKRDA, along with trying to assist on the other issues and challenges facing the organisation.”

On Sunday 27th November, representatives from UKRDA member leagues came together in Birmingham for the 2012 AGM.

The meeting was a great success, with by-laws updates agreed, projects for the next 5 years discussed, as well as the annual Board Elections.

The Board remains largely unchanged from last year, with 2 vacant positions filled and a full Board of seven Directors for the first time.
President – Nancy Spinatra, Central City Rollergirls
Vice President – Mistress Malicious, Glasgow Roller Girls
Secretary – Minx A’matosis, Lincolnshire Bombers Roller Girls
Directors – Slice Andice, London Rollergirls; Izzy Dauntless, Birmingham Blitz Dames; Phoenix in Flames, Romsey Town Rollerbillies; Yorkshire Tripper, Royal Windsor Rollergirls

Of the meeting, Nancy Spinatra (Sal Wright) said

“It was fantastic to see so many unanimous votes in favour of some of the changes we proposed to our working policies. It really shows that we are all on the same page and that UKRDA is truly representative of the current derby climate in the UK. I am especially excited about the mini expo tournament we are putting on at Tattoo Freeze next year – we did the draw at the meeting, and it has us all energised for the future of the sport in the UK”

Policy updates and news on new projects will be communicated to the general public via the UKRDA website as they are finalised.

The UKRDA is proud to support the two National Teams heading over to Toronto, Canada in a couple of weeks to represent England and Scotland at the Blood & Thunder Roller Derby World Cup. Both teams have been training hard over the past few months in preparation for the event.

REPRESENTING ENGLAND:
Dalai Harmer
Dee-mise
el VISIOUS
Feral Fairy
Fox Sake
Frightning Bolt
Grievous Bodily Charm
Hustle Her
Jack Attack
Juicy Lucy
Kamikaze Kitten
Metallikat
Missy Rascal
Ninjette
Raw Heidi
Rogue Runner
Shaolynn Scarlett (injured)
Stefanie Mainey
The Mighty Mighty Bash
Vagablonde
Violet Attack
Coaches: Ballistic Whistle, Barry Fight & Rollin’ StoneR.

You can follow Team England on Twitter (@TeamEnglandRD), facebook, or visit their website if you’re interested in helping contribute funds to individual skaters or all of Team England to help them get to the 2011 World Cup.

Rollin’ StoneR says:

Thanks for all the awesome messages of support you continue to send with your donations, please keep ‘em coming!  Every £ you can spare is very much appreciated!!!

REPRESENTING SCOTLAND:
Alma Geddon
Armed Bandit
Betty Gogo
Blazin’ Phoenix
Ciderella
Clinically Wasted
Crazylegs
Danger Mouth
Fight Cub
Lily Lethal
Marla Mayhem
Marshal Lawless
Minnie Riot
Mistress
Mo B Quick
Moxie Emerald
Velosidy
Viper
Whiskey Galore
Wild Oates
Coaches: Viper and Alma Geddon

From the team:

Team Scotland Roller Derby team and supporters have been working hard over the past 6 months to raise funds to get the team to the first ever Roller Derby World Cup.  All the leagues in Scotland have pitched in, and an amazing amount of money and sponsorship has been raised through fundraising events, merchandise and generous donations.

We have a honeyfund account where people can donate to us, and you can also hit the donate button on our website.

Keep up with the latest team news at the Team Scotland website: www.teamscotlandrollerderby.com, Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TeamScotlandRD or follow them on Twitter: twitter.com/TeamScotlandRD

Check back on the UKRDA website for the teams’ bout schedules/brackets.