Bout Report: Glasgow Roller Derby v Stockholm Roller Derby Double Header

Photograph by Sam Skipsey

The bout report for the recent GRD double header against Stockholm Roller Derby is up on Ante Ortus A Novus Lumen Ars.All the usual pics and video, as well as a comprehensive report to feast your eyes on.

Bout Report: Tyne and Fear vs The Jakey Bites

This is a first on the Scottish Roller Derby Blog… Men’s Roller Derby! The Jakey Bites, Scotland’s first export of “merby” or “broller derby” (my personal favourite!), travelled south of the border on Saturday 21st April to take on Newcastle’s Tyne and Fear.

The Jakey Bites hail from all over Scotland and are a mixture of Roller Derby Referees and enthusiastic new skaters. After just a few short months of training together, The Jakey’s put on a valiant display of grit and determination when up against Tyne and Fear. The home team were keen to continue their winning streak by notching up their fourth consecutive triumph in their first bout played at home.

The support for The Jakey Bites was unbelievable. Despite playing away from home, it was noted by the announcers that the Scottish crowd were louder than the Newcastle supporters! With fans holding up hand-made posters for their favourite players, and shouting encouragement to their team throughout, the whole experience was incredible!

Well that’s enough of the soppy stuff, so now on to the action!

Tyne and Fear vs. The Jakey Bites, photo courtesy Graeme Wharton

Tyne and Fear:

• #82 Captain: Man shaped Dog
• #26 Alternate: Chemic-Al
• #4J Reanimated.GIF
• #5 Da Little Waster
• #22 Rubba Duk
• #v1 Dark Matter
• #14pt Markoleptic
• #8 Porky
• #511 Gay Fawkes
• #1701 Jams T. Kirk
• #80 Adsinthe
• #2×4 Man From Del Munky
• #13 Pablo Diablo
• #64 Sixty Quad Bit

The Jakey Bites:

• #IQ0 Captain: Genuine Miller Draft
• #8 Alternate: Skol-Krushr
• #Red5 X-Kaliber
• #19 Judder Jam
• #6 Bruise Dog
• #N7 Crash Effect
• #4 Brutally Frank
• #9 Diamond Fight
• #57 Absolute Bar Steward
• #18 Tequila Jammer
• #11 Fool Throttle
• #39 Duff McKegger
• #2 Danny Desperado

Period 1

The first jam went off to a flying start, with Captain Genuine Miller Daft from The Jakey Bites lining up with Tyne and Fear’s Da Little Waster. Tyne and Fear chose to play the tactical, and now popular, Jammer-Line start to set both jammers off quickly and get the action underway – a move that would be repeated throughout.

In the opening minutes of the game, one of Tyne and Fear’s most dangerous weapons was quickly revealed: Dark Matter. In the second Jam, he flew around the track clocking up a 30-point jam, but not without being challenged by The Jakey’s Skol-Krushr first. An ill-timed block from the Pivot-cum-Jammer, after a star pass from Tequila Jammer, saw Krushr taking a trip to the Sin Bin for a back block major penalty.

Dark Matter takes on The Jakey Bites, photo courtesy of Graeme Wharton

Not to be disheartened, The Jakey’s very quickly appeared to let go of their first bout nerves, with some excellent defensive walls displayed by Diamond Fight, Fool Throttle and Crash Effect. Duff McKeggar and Absolute Bar Steward took on the offensive role, and were breaking down the Tyne and Fear walls to help their Jammer through the pack to score some points.

After being on the receiving end of powerful hits from Reanimated.GIF, Porky and Rubba Duk, The Jakey’s got a chance to retaliate in Jam 5. Bruise Dog returned to the track from the sin bin, shortly followed by the opposing Jammer, Man Shaped Dog, being sent off for a major penalty. With strong offensive action from X-Kaliber, Bruise Dog took full advantage of the Power Jam and clocked up The Jakey’s first points of the game.

Jam 5: Tyne and Fear 80 – The Jakey Bites 10

The Jams that followed showed just why Tyne and Fear are holding on to their winning streak. Despite impressive 3 and 4-walls from The Jakey’s Blockers, and aggressive jamming from Duff McKeggar, The Jakey’s struggled to keep the opposing Jammer back to protect the points difference. Whenever a Jakey wall was looking to be particularly effective, the Tyne and Fear Blockers quickly changed their strategy to break the walls and clear a path through for their own teammate.

Much to the delight of Scottish announcer, Helliverance, quite a lot of major penalties were committed by both sides, often resulting in power jams. When this happened, the “sausage” tactic was played well by the advantaged team, and it was in this very situation that The Jakey’s earned their first Lead Jammer status. Genuine Miller Daft started Jam 12 on a lonely Jammer line, but with help from Danny Desperado making holes in the pack, Miller made his way through opposing Blockers Porky and Man Shaped Dog, picking up more points for his team. After a team time-out followed by an official time-out, the visitor’s scores were adjusted to award them 2 extra points.

Jam 12: Tyne and Fear 176- The Jakey Bites 21

Skol-Krushr from The Jakey Bites was unfortunately finding himself on the receiving end of some pretty big hits, and despite a nervous moment when he removed himself from the track with an injury, he returned unfazed as Pivot in Jam 14. Krushr’s quick-thinking was put to the test when The Jakey’s Jammer was sent to the sin bin, but was released early when Tyne and Fear’s Jammer, Da Little Waster, was also issued a major penalty. Back on track, Genuine Miller Daft saw his chance and grabbed it with both hands, earning his team 3 more points.

With a strong power jam in their favour, The Jakey Bites fielded Fool Throttle as Jammer in Jam 15. Teammates Judder Jam and Absolute Bar Steward were determined to make the most of this advantage, and were giving it all they had to make holes in the pack to help Fool Throttle gain Lead Jammer. This was an extremely intense jam as the Tyne and Fear Jammer briefly returned to track, but was then almost instantly sent back to the bin. The whole time, Fool Throttle seemed to have gotten a good measure of the pack, and was making light work of Tyne and Fear’s defensive walls. When the opposing Jammer again returned to track, Fool Throttle ended the jam just in time, to the chorus of the whole Jakey following shouting, “Call it off”!

Jam 15: Tyne and Fear 218 – The Jakey Bites 39

Fool Throttle powers through the pack, photo courtesy of Graeme Wharton

With two Jams remaining before half-time, a tactical call-off by Lead Jammer Sixty Quad Bit with two of his Blockers in the bin, stopped The Jakey’s in their tracks after only scoring 1 point. In the final Jam of the first period, TAF’s Jammer, Adsinthe, increased the points difference, but kept an eye on the opposing Jammer the whole time and called off the jam – but not before Skol-Krushr collected an extra point.

Half time score: Tyne and Fear 237 – The Jakey Bites 41

Period 2

Although starting Period 1 apprehensive, The Jakey Bites gathered more confidence as the bout progressed, put their strategies into play, and gave out as good as they got! This attitude carried into Period 2, with X-Kaliber claiming the coveted Lead Jammer status in the first returning jam while Brutally Frank kept TAF’s Jammer, Man Shaped Dog. The excitement was short-lived as X-Kaliber was sent to the bin, but Frank, Danny Desperado, Bruise Dog and pivot Genuine Miller Daft created a solid 4-wall in the power jam in an attempt to control the points difference. Just as X-Kaliber returned to track, the jam was called off with The Jakey’s scoring just 3 points to TAF’s 30.

Duff McKeggar takes on Man Shaped Dog, photo courtesy of Graeme Wharton

Jammers Skol-Krushr and Da Little Waster started off strong in Jam 19, with Tequila Jammer, Judder Jam and Diamond Fight forming a strong defensive wall to hold the TAF Jammer on his first pass. Tyne and Fear quickly found themselves with the advantage of a power jam as Krushr was sent off for an elbows major, followed by blocker Absolute Bar Steward for an illegal clockwise block. TAF’s pack advantage was quickly lost as Da Little Waster was sent off for a back block major but then was whistled again for insubordination after failing to leave the track quick enough. With a 2-minute penalty now issued, Referee, The Enforcer, really lived up to his name!

Jam 19: Tyne and Fear 287- The Jakey Bites 44

Genuine Miller Daft started off on the jam line alone in jam 20, and managed to pick up 4 points for The Jakey’s despite the offensive ‘hammer and nail’ technique displayed by TAF’s Pablo Diablo, Markoleptic and Rubba Duk. A switch of jammers in the penalty box saw Da Little Waster score 21 points then calling off the jam just as Miller Daft returned to track.

The next few jams were played very quickly and were loaded with points for Tyne and Fear who broke the 400-point barrier! Although The Jakey’s showed real determination and team work, they were understandably struggling to close this huge points difference. By this point in the game it was obvious that both teams were having a great time out on track – regardless of the score – and were commending each other with hugs and high fives between  jams.

Jam 29: Tyne and Fear 401- The Jakey Bites 48

Jam 30 saw the power jam advantage go in the favour of Tyne and Fear again when The Jakey’s X-Kaliber was binned after (a bit too) aggressively jamming his way through the pack. Although TAF Jammer Man Shaped Dog skated fast through his initial pass, it wasn’t clean and he was ‘Not Lead Jammer’. While The Jakey’s tried hard to hold him behind their wall at the front of the pack, X-Kaliber snuck onto the track unnoticed, picked up 3 points, was declared Lead Jammer, then ended the Jam.

With only a few more jams remaining, both teams were literally throwing themselves into the competition! Da Little Waster for Tyne and Fear impressed the crowd again with his speed and light footwork, resulting in an impressive grand slam. Not to be outdone, Vice Captain Chemic-Al scored a whopping 34-point jam, with this kilt blowing in the breeze the whole time!

Jam 32: Tyne and Fear 488- The Jakey Bites 51

Chemic-Al showing off his kilt! Photo courtesy of Graeme Wharton

Dark Matter helped his team break the 500-point barrier in Jam 37 after scoring another 20 points. He seemed to skate right through the walls that The Jakey’s were putting up! In the dying minutes of the game, Jakey’s X-Kaliber and Skol-Krushr worked well to take the speed from the TAF jammers, with Krushr even taking out Markoleptic in the final jam. Even with the considerable points difference, The Jakey’s put up a fight right until the end.

 Full time score: Tyne and Fear 536 – The Jakey Bites 54

The Awards

For Tyne and Fear:

• Best Jammer: Dark Matter
• Best Blocker: Porky
• Most Valuable Player: Chemic-Al

And for the Jakey Bites:

• Best Jammer: Duff McKeggar
• Best Blocker: Brutally Frank
• Most Valuable Player: Genuine Miller Daft

The Fierce Valley Roller Cubs Are Coming!

Fierce Valley Roller Girls recently launched their junior league:The Fierce Valley Roller Cubs.The first of its kind in Scotland and only the third currently in the UK.On course to be properly up and running later in the year,The Cubs want to hear from anyone interested in participating in a bit of Derby history.Junior Derby,just like its adult parent,is run on the same principles,promoting fun,friendship,athleticism,team work and self-confidence amongst all involved.While aimed primarily at female skaters between the ages of 5 and 17,boys can join in to train as referees and non skating officials.
Fierce Valley Roller Girls have engaged a number of their skaters to form a Youth Development committee,as the Cubs spokesperson,Frocky Horror explains,“Youth Development’s remit is to explore and pursue opportunities for under 18′s to be part of FVRG, which sounds fairly straightforward, but it basically involves starting a whole new league. We have recruited an amazing committee of 9 skaters,we all have different backgrounds and levels of experience with kids, but we share a common goal and are determined to make Fierce Valley Roller Cubs a reality. We are passionate about getting kids on skates and have all pledged to become coaches”
The Cubs will operate under the Junior Roller Derby Association rule set,a modified version of the WFTDA one used the world over by adult leagues.While essentially the same,various changes with safety in mind, have been made to make the sport more playable for young people.These changes include reduced contact ,shorter period times and longer intervals between jams.Additionally there are graduated levels of play,dependant on the age and experience of the skaters.For example,Level 1 skaters may only use positional blocking,At Level 2,skaters may use pushing,while only Level 3 skaters may make full contact.
It’s not all about the girls though,Roller Derby needs officials.Boys can join up to train for the vital roles of referees and nonskating officials,or nso’s.So while the ref and nso crew get the responsibility of officiating their peers,they also learn various skills that will serve them well in later life,like teamwork,communication and organisation.
As time goes on and skaters progress through the skill levels and,of course, reach the required age,the opportunity will be there to enter the adult league of the Cubs parent,the Fierce Valley Roller Girls,something which Frocky Horror is keen to get across,“It is very important for the juniors to have a goal, and what better goal than getting to graduate and become a Fierce Valley Roller Girl? Pathways into adult leagues are essential for growth, so we aim for the juniors to have a great relationship with the adult league and vice versa.”
If you or your kids are interested in joining The Cubs and not only being part of Derby history ,but having fun and keeping active in a friendly environment then you can contact the Fierce Valley Roller Cubs via their Facebook page, at their blog or follow their Twitter account should you have any questions.You can also register your interest here.
Or you can chat in person about the Cubs with the Fierce Valley Roller Girls at their upcoming Craft Emporium.

Auld Reekie Roller Girls-Home Season Final 2012

Image courtesy of ARRG

On Saturday the 28th of April,Auld Reekie Roller Girls host the much anticipated final of their first Home Season in style with a double header.First up is a bout between Arrg’s Cherry Bombers and Glasgow Roller Derby’s Hells Belles.The main event is to decide which Home Team will be crowned champions and will see the Skatefast Club go up against the Leithal Weapons in what should be a really hard fought bout.
This takes place at Meadowbank Sports Centre,London Road,Edinburgh,entry is £7 on the day or £6 in advance.
Please note this is an evening event,doors open at 5pm with the first bout at 5:30pm.

Monthly Diary of a League: Nasty Nessies in April: Marge Mallow

Quick on the heels of our last monthly diary, here’s the Nasty Nessies‘ entry for April, the probably-not-as-toastable-as-her-namesake Marge Mallow!

Marge Mallow, by James King

What first attracted you to Roller Derby?

I didn’t have a clue it existed until about 8 months ago but when I first heard about it and did a little research, it came across as a fun, fast paced, exciting sport. I also liked the danger aspect and also the fact that it’s not ageist or sizeist or any other ‘ist’

Derby names are an important aspect of the sport, especially when you’re starting out. How did you choose your name, and how does it reflect your personality on track?

Choosing a name is so difficult and frustrating. There are so many out there that are already spoken for and just when you think you’ve found a good one, the register of derby names is updated and bam! you find out someone has beaten you to the post and it’s time to find another name. Marge Mallow came about as I’m soft and sweet to begin with but too much and I’ll make you sick

What was your biggest initial difficulty?

Parting with the money for kit that you need to take part but are not sure if you’ll stick at it long enough to justify it. Also, getting my mouth guard moulded to fit properly was stupidly difficult!

Lots of roller girls find it hard not to spread the word about their new sport. How have you been spreading the word?

Talking about it to friends and family, facebooking, wearing my team hoodie out n about.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt/ done this month?

Most important thing I’ve done… I passed my mins, Yeah! Most important thing I’ve learnt… I passed my mins, Yeah! Sorry, but I’m so chuffed with myself. Did I mention I passed my mins?

What were the most difficult and the best things?

Um, these questions are pretty difficult but also my first attempt at 25 laps in 5 mins was the most difficult thing I’ve done, or not done as the case may be as I didn’t manage it first time. Bad breathing technique cost me that one I reckon. Best thing is probably the team. I’ve never done a team sport and to be in such a diverse group of people that work together so well is just amazing. Sickening but true.

What’s new for the Nessies this month?

We’ve been a busy bunch of Nessies this month. There’s been a lot of hard work and effort all round that has resulted in many of us passing our mins. Did I mention I’d passed mine?

New Town Roller Girls:Fresh Meat

Image courtesy of New Town Roller Girls

New Town Roller Girls are recruiting in the Livingston area,drop them a line at the email address on the flyer or drop by their Facebook page to register your interest.

Monthly Diary of a League: Fierce Valley in April: Bloodhoney

Slightly delayed for reasons outside the interviewee’s control, here’s Fierce Valley Roller Girls latest monthly diary entry. This month, Grizabelta chose Bloodhoney, who’s not just a strong element of Fierce Valley herself, but also the source of two of their most reliable fans – her husband and son!

Bloodhoney in action. Photo by Claire Fotheringham/zenspirations photography

What first attracted you to Roller Derby?

I had looked into Roller Derby on and off for years but never plucked up the courage to go along. One day I decided to bite the bullet and do something about it. Initially, I was going to go to ARRG as I thought they were the only team close by but after a quick search on Facebook I came across FVRG, a new league at the time who had only been running for a few months. FVRG seemed less daunting to I went along to a Sunday session and haven’t looked back.

Derby names are an important aspect of the sport, especially when you’re starting out. How did you choose your name, and how does it reflect your personality on track?

Like most of us Roller Girls picking out the right name took an age! Being one of the older girls in league my musical tastes are still stuck in the 90′s and I wanted something music related in my name. I’m a huge Pearl Jam fan but this seemed too obvious so I went for the next best thing, Mudhoney. Eventually I came up with Bloodhoney. Does it reflect my personality on track? Probably not yet, I’m not the biggest hitter but hopefully over time I will grow into it!

What was your biggest initial difficulty?

Confidence, just like now! I’ve never been the most confident person, so going into Roller Derby was quite a big deal for me. There’s always new challenges within Derby, you master one thing and next up there’s something else to work on. The most important thing is to keep trying, as hard as I try I still can not do transitions, it’s infuriating but I keep on trying!

Lots of roller girls find it hard not to spread the word about their new sport. How have you been spreading the word?

How have I not? Roller Derby takes over pretty quickly! I’ll pretty much talk to anyone and everyone about Roller Derby and to be fair most people are genuinely interested and a few have joined the league. Facebook updates are generally Derby related; it kind of takes over!

What’s the most important thing you’ve learnt/ done this month?

We’ve been working on our walls a lot recently and I can see a huge difference in our team work. Whereas before we would all be working on our own positions we now are working much more as a unit and the results are impressive!

What were the most difficult and the best things?

Again transitions. We have had quite a few training sessions on them now, I’ve watched the newbies come up and master them pretty quickly and I still can not do them, I have no idea what it will take for me to do one, I’m hoping that one day it will just happen! The best thing would be just seeing how we have come on as a team. I think everyone would agree that the difference in our performance from our first bout and second was pretty good. We came out of the bout with Dundee feeling proud, even if we did get beat!

What’s new in FVRG this month?

April is a busy month for FVRG. Besides training for our bout in Belfast we have a fundraiser “The Craft Emporium” on the 28th of April to help get us there! We’re also working hard on getting the Fierce Valley Roller Cubs (Scotland’s 1st junior Roller Derby league) up and running, so anyone out there with little guys that want to have a go at Derby, get in touch!

 

Next month’s interviewee will be Hey Ho Let’s Jo!.

Bout Report: ARRG Home Season 2012: Cherry Bombers v The Skatefast Club 7th April 2012

Photograph by Sam Skipsey

If you head over to Ante Ortus A Novus Lumen Ars you can read the bout report from the most recent installment of the Auld Reekie Roller Girls Home Season.A closely fought match between the Cherry Bombers and the Skatefast Club with all the usual pictures and video to peruse.

Bout preview: Fair City Rollers vs Granite City Roller Girls

 

 

In what should be a brilliant bout, the Fair City Rollers Fear Maidens will take on the Granite City Roller Girls Northern Fights in Perth this weekend in the Scrimmage of the Damned.

This is the second of four home bouts planned for 2012 for the Fear Maidens, who have been working hard to prepare for what is bound to be a hard-hitting and high scoring contest.

With a small number of skaters available, FCR have recruited three guest skaters from the Fierce Valley Roller Girls – Fun Ghoul, Deep Fried Pixxie and Jo Anarchy – to join the fun.

Scrimmage of the Damned will take place on Sunday (April 22) at Bell’s Sports Centre, Perth, doors open at 1.30pm.

Tyne and Fear Vs The Jakey Bites-Mens Roller Derby

Image courtesy of Tyne And Fear

On the 21st of April 2012,a little bit of Derby history will be made,Scotland’s first Mens Roller Derby league,the Jakey Bites will play in their first public bout against Tyne And Fear,brother league to Newcastle Roller Girls
The bout is part of a double header,with the first bout of the day between,NRG’s Whippin’ Hinnies and Hull’s Angels Roller Dames.The action takes place at the Walker Activity Dome,Wharrier Street,Newcastle Upon Tyne,doors open at 12:30pm and entry is £4.50.