BETTE NOIR TELLS ALL

Hi everyone in derby-ville-land. Just thought I would give everyone a
friendly update from across the pond. Those who know me (unless they
drank too much whiskey and forgot) are well aware that less than two
months ago I made the big leap to international roller derby by
hauling my skates and a massive bag of spare wheels all the way from
Los Angeles to London. I am missing my gals at Angel City, but happy
to report on the phenomenal progress of London’s original flat track
league London Rollergirls.

I have been skating with the girls since I got here, and we have also
been lucky to have Bikini Killer from Detroit Derby join us for the
summer. The league is growing at a fast clip now, and we are
impressed with the skating skills, and the dedication everyone has
shown to kicking it into high gear.

Also, and most exciting on a recent Saturday we held our first practice
bout. Call it a dress rehearsal if you will, since we didn’t allow an
audience (soon, soon), but we played like it was a real bout with real
time constraints, and real pride on the line. We broke into two teams
with a great London historical theme Black Death and London Burning.

The venue was hot and sweaty and made for some tired and drippy
rollergirls by the time it was over, but we sure had a lot of fun.
There were a ton of fast packs, some awesome jamming skills, and some
super hard hits. Veteran skaters were knocked down by newbies, and
good natured trash talking and cheerleading was heard from all. In
the end Black Death reigned supreme, but it’s hard to put the great
fire out, so who knows what might happen next time the two meet on the
track.

Lest we not forget the after party, picture this: 30+ rollergirls,
refs, and support crew in uniform all traveling en masse through
the tube system to SoHo on a balmy evening. Picture crowds of people
staring open mouthed as they tried to figure out what in the hell all
these girls in fishnets and team shirts were doing carrying helmets
and sweaty pads and rollerskates over their shoulders. We passed out
a lot of fliers, made some new friends, and of course drank a whole
lot of the good stuff. I even got a tear in my eye when I won the
award for biggest trash talker.

So I hope some of you follow the example of Bikini and I get yer
butts over and skate with LRG. It’s a great group of women, and we
are always excited to have visitors. The more the merrier! Bring
wheels and lock nuts! (and league schwag of course)

P.S. I know where to get great derby skirts and where to get cheap
pints.what more do you need?

With Luv,

Bette Noir
London Rollergirls

KEEP ROLLIN’
“A group of girls in London are working hard to get the fastest growing sport in America established in London. They are fast, violent and downright sexy. Say hello to the London Rollergirls.” - Juris Graney TNT

DEATH AND BURNING IN LONDON

So we had our first closed-door private bout yesterday. Black Death (my team) vs. London’s Burning (or London’s Gurning as we like to call them). Considering we had lost the last 3 practise sessions (without a full team mind you), we really had no idea how it was going to go. We all played our derby butts off though, and everyone really pushed themselves. It was amazing to be actually playing the game, with proper roller derby conditions. even if it did mean doing a stint in the penalty box (or on the ‘naughty step’ as I like to think of it) for a minute, and being trash talked to by scary American derby girls (yes, you know who you are BIKINI!!!….you are an awesome opponent by the way, and I don’t want you to go back to the States!!!), and hearing Sky Rokit scream at the top of her lungs “KITTY’S COMIIIIIIIIINNNGGGGG!!!!”

It was a pretty tight game really, though I am pleased to say that Black Death won in the end! And just in the nick of time, as I really don’t think I could have gone on any longer!! I have never been so physically exhausted in my life! And what is amazing, as Sky Rokit (Captain of the Gurner’s) said to me after the game, is that when you are playing, it’s like the opponents are the most evil people on earth, but after the game, it’s all hugs and love. After we had finished yesterday, we all lined up to congratulate each other and it was so nice to give a big hug to someone you had only moments ago slammed into a wall!!

I felt so proud of everyone for making it such a great day. It was a great step for the League, and so nice to see all the hard work that has been put into LRG, is really starting to take us
forward in leaps and bounds.

Highlights of the day included:
* Our cheer squad squeaking the toy rats to spur us on to victory!
* Slamming Slice Andice into a wall (and taking myself out at the same time), then
getting up and onto the track only to be taken out by N-Emma-Sis and
knock Slice down again!
* Bikini Killer and Bette Noir’s supremo trash talking!!! SCARY!
* Brave new Roller-cub Fox Sake recovering from being winded and playing on like a trooper
* Correctional Felicity’s total track domination. thank god she is on my team!! EEK!!!
(even if she did think Shane was just some weirdo on the street that
started talking to me. hahahahaha. you’ll never live that one down!)
* Poison Arrow only getting FOUR fouls!!!! you go girl!!!
* How super-cool we all looked in our team uniforms!!!

This game rocks!!!!
And mega thanks to my team mates:
Poison Arrow
Bette Noir
Hula Gunn
Correctional Felicity
Blue Murder
Missyle Elliot
Grace of Wrath
Cannon Fire
Speedy-Go-Faster

Black Death

London’s Burning

Derby Love