Tickets for Roll Britannia now on sale!

London Rollergirls are hosting ROLL BRITANNIA, the first European roller derby tournament, on Saturday and Sunday, 18 & 19 July 2009 at Brompton Hall, part of the Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre. This will be the roller derby event of the year: 2 days, 12 leagues from across the UK and Germany, and 16 action-packed roller derby bouts!

Full details of the event and tickets are available on the Roll Britannia site: www.rollbritannia.com

Participating leagues are
Auld Reekie Rollergirls (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Berlin Bombshells (Berlin, Germany)
Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames (Birmingham, England)
Central City Rollergirls (Birmingham, England)
Glasgow Roller Girls (Glasgow, Scotland)
Leeds Roller Dolls (Leeds, England)
London Rockin Rollers (London, England)
London Rollergirls (London, England)
Rainy City Rollergirls (Manchester, England)
Royal Rebel Rollers (mixed team of Middlesborough Milk Rollers, Rebellion Rollergirls, and Windsor Rollergirls (Middlesborough, Kempston, & Windsor, England))
Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz (Stuttgart, Germany)
Team East Angrier (mixed team of Romsey Town Rollerbillies and Brawlin’ Angels Rollergirls (Cambridge & Bedford, England))

Saturday was a day of firsts. Our first double-header travel team bout, the Brawl Saints’ first bout, our first streaker…

An ace time was had by all, and the final scores were:

London Brawl Saints 156 - 47 Leeds Roller Dolls
London Brawling 249 - 20 Birmingham Brummie Bombshells

Here’s a couple of highlight videos from the ever-talented Baron von Strange:
Brawl Saints vs Leeds Roller Dolls
London Brawling vs Brummie Bombshells

Massive thanks to the Roller Dolls and the Blitz Dames for coming down and playing us - we’ll see you both again in six weeks’ time at Roll Britannia! And as always, big love to all of you for coming to watch and cheer us on. We hope we’ll see you again in six weeks too! Tickets will be going on sale soon - stay tuned.

Love, the LRG x

Check out our forum for some great pics of Saturday’s action - caution may contain nudity!

We thought it was great fun to have two bouts in one day, and you agreed, so we’re doing it again! Our intraleague season is over, and we are playing other leagues. First, our newly formed all-star reserves Team, the Brawl Saints, will take on Leeds Roller Dolls. Then our all-star team, London Brawling, will play Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames‘ Brummie Bombshells.

Tickets will be limited. Be sure to buy early to avoid disappointment–we sold out well in advance of the last bout, so make sure you don’t miss out this time! Tickets are £10 in advance (two bouts!) or £12 on the door (if we have any left).

Doors open at 4:00 and the first bout starts at 5:00PM.

There are a few ways you can get tickets in advance:

1.) Online using a debit card, credit card, or PayPal account. All tickets purchased online will be held at the door and are non-refundable. Just click on the Buy Now button below to purchase! (50p fee per ticket)
—PAYPAL TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT—

2.) Through Brown Paper Tickets:
—BPT TICKETS NOW SOLD OUT—

3.) From Kitty at The Wacky Barber: 9-12 St Anne’s Court, Soho, London, W1F 0BE (0207 494 3101)

4.) At one of Tatty Devine’s two locations: 236 Brick Lane, London, E2 7LH (020 7739 9191) or 57b Brewer Street, Soho, London, W1F 9UL (020 7434 2257)

5.) Through a rollergirl. If you are lucky enough to personally know a London Rollergirl or ref, you can purchase tickets directly through her or him.

To make sure that you are kept up to date with bout and travel annoucements, join the Facebook event page (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=80489803476) or send a message with the subject “subscribe events” to info at londonrollergirls dot com.

We thought it was great to have two bouts in one day, and you lovely lot in the crowd told us you agreed. So we’re doing it again! Our intraleague season is over, and now it’s time to play other leagues…

Saturday 6th June 2009:
London Rollergirls B-team: the Brawl Saints vs Leeds Roller Dolls
followed by
London Rollergirls All-Stars: London Brawling vs Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames‘ Brummie Bombshells

Tickets on sale very soon - stay tuned for more details.

When I first joined London Rollergirls in January 2007 we had recruitment issues. We were trying to play a sport that no one had heard of in a town full of badminton teams. On a good day we might have enough girls to scrimmage at practice, but only if everyone played every jam. A public bout was a pipe dream. A far off mythical land that would take years to trek to. We kept on keeping on, giving our blood sweat, and love to this crazy game that by now we were all completely addicted to. Thanks to various publications and ye olde London grapevine numbers began to gently swell.

By September 2007, with a little help from our friends at Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz we managed to field two teams of 11 girls for the UK’s first public roller derby bout. We fretted about playing to an empty sports hall, but ten minutes before the doors opened BigCatMerv announced that we had sold out!

Nineteen months after that first public game, a few broken bones and some torn shoulders later we hosted our first proper season championship game. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, it was a double header, with the Ultraviolent Femmes opening the night by hosting Barockcity Rollerderby. It was Barock’s first public game and they admitted that they were as nervous as could be. Their roster ended up only having eleven girls on it after one player couldn’t make it last minute. Despite their inexperience and depleted numbers meaning that everyone had to pretty much play every other jam, these girls grinned through the whole game. The crowd were right behind them celebrating every point these girls fought for. They were happy to be in London and they played hard we were so proud to host these gals, what fantastic opponents. We love you Barockcity! Final score Ultraviolent Femmes 171 Barockcity Rollerderby 15.

Next up was the main event. Suffra Jets vs Steam Rollers. The nerves were clearly evident for both teams. There was a lot of pride riding on this game. Both had trained hard and both were going to go all out for the win. After a joint warm up session that looked more like synchronised swimming on rollerskates, led by Miss E Fit, strong inter-team friendships were put to one side for an hour or so. War paint and lame were donned. Wheel nuts tightened, toe stops adjusted. By the time they took to the track the anticipation in the changing rooms was almost tangible.

The Suffra Jets took an early lead but the Steam Rollers were never more than a couple of good jams behind them in the first half. BigCat will fill you in on the details later but needless to say the sold out crowd were clutching their cupcakes with excitement throughout the game. It was the last game with her team for Suffra Jet co captain Kitty DeCapitate, and she did her team (and her league) proud as the Jets eventually triumphed with a score of 97 – 73, claiming the title of the FIRST London Rollergirls season champions.

In the immortal words of Tori and Dean – “Look how far we’ve come after all”.

Rose Hypnol. xoxo

photos by Steve Newton

Congratulations to the Suffra Jets, the first London Rollergirls Champions!

Final scores from Grand Slam!:

Suffra Jets 97 - 73 Steam Rollers
Ultraviolent Femmes 171 -15 Barockcity Rollerderby

Full writeups to follow.

Over here at LRG HQ, training for the championship bout is well underway. The currently undefeated futuristic feminists, the Suffra Jets, will take on the steam powered, steam punk Steam Rollers in a battle for the title of London Rollergirls first league champions. 

This game is not to be missed. The Suffra Jets are missing key players due to unfortunate injuries – can they retain their undefeated title without the awesome tag team of N-emma-sis and Silky Briefs? Will their amazing teamwork and speed carry them to victory? Or will the Steam Rollers defense flatten the opposition and claim the title? One thing’s for sure, this game is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Here at London Rollergirls, however, we don’t do things by halves. Not content with finishing our first season proper with a game that promises to be so close you’d have to be a fortune teller to predict a winner, we have an opening game lined up for the SAME NIGHT!  LRG’s own Ultraviolent Femmes are gearing up to take on Barockcity Rollerderby from Ludwigsburg (just outside of Stuttgart according to Wikipedia) in Germany.

When I asked Barockcity to comment on their thoughts about the game they said: “Everything will be exciting and we hope that we will return to Germany in one piece. It would be nice to cheer for us too because we do not know anybody in London!”

So what are you waiting for? Tickets are on sale now through Brown Paper Tickets (if you want them posted) or our regular Paypal link on the site for collection on the door. Also from your friendly local rollergirl (if you are lucky enough to know one!)

See you on April 25th. We can’t wait!

Rose Hypnol. xox

It’s our birthday soon!!!

London Rollergirls will be 3 years old in April and we are celebrating…we’d love you to celebrate with us at ‘Birthday Bash’ our fundraiser night.

SAVE THE DATE!
Date: Friday 3rd April 2009

Venue: The Gaff, 382 Holloway Road, N7 6PN
Time: Doors 8pm, bands from 9:30pm

There will be live music from Affluenza, Hip Priests and Sons of Merrick plus our very own rollergirl DJ’s. We are raising funds for Girls Rock UK.

Come and party with us!!

It’s the first ever London Rollergirls championship bout, and have we got a treat for you… not one but TWO awesome derby bouts!

First up we’ll have our own Ultraviolent Femmes taking on Barockcity Rollerderby from Ludwigsburg, Germany, and after a short break for you to get your breath back you’ll see the Suffra Jets take on the Steam Rollers for the right to call themselves the first ever LRG League Champions!

Tickets for this double header will be limited as we oversold last time and it was all a bit crowded, so buy early to avoid disappointment! Tickets are £10 in advance this time (two bouts, though!) or £12 on the door.

Doors open at 4:00 and the first bout starts at 5:00PM.

Advance tickets are SOLD OUT!! We may have a very limited number available on the door (15-20).

To make sure that you are kept up to date with bout and travel announcements, join the Facebook event page or send a message with the subject “subscribe events” to info at londonrollergirls dot com.

Ever thought one roller derby bout in an evening just wasn’t enough? Us too…

London Rollergirls present Grand Slam! Our season finale is a double header!

First up we’ll have our own Ultraviolent Femmes taking on Barockcity Rollerderby from Ludwigsburg, Germany, and after a short break for you to get your breath back you’ll see the Suffra Jets take on the Steam Rollers for the right to call themselves the first ever LRG League Champions!

Tickets for this double header will be limited as we oversold last time and it was all a bit crowded, so buy early to avoid disappointment! Tickets are £10 in advance this time (two bouts, though!) or £12 on the door.

Doors open at 4:00 and the first bout starts at 5:00PM.

Advance tickets are SOLD OUT!!! We may have a very limited number (15-20) available on the door.

To make sure that you are kept up to date with bout and travel announcements, join the Facebook event page or send a message with the subject “subscribe events” to info at londonrollergirls dot com.