RIOTS OF SPRING: LONDON ROLLERGIRLS VS GLASGOW ROLLER GIRLS!

“London calling to the faraway towns… Now war is declared, and battle come down!”

You’ve seen the London Rollergirls’ Team Black and Team Pink knock seven bells out of each other twice now (and if you haven’t, where the hell were you?) but this time we’ve got something new for you… LONDON ROLLERGIRLS vs GLASGOW ROLLER GIRLS!!!

That’s right - the Glasgow Roller Girls are sending down their best and hardest-hitting skaters to take on the best that the London Rollergirls have to offer. It’s our first interleague bout, it’s gonna be brutal, and you’d be mad to miss it. London Brawling take on the Irn Bruisers, Saturday 29th March, Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, London.

I speak on behalf of LRG and all my new rollergirl chums in saying thank you for making boot camp such a great day. In true rollergirl form we played hard and partied even harder… but more of the booze talk later.

The turnout was superb and the warm-up felt like a agility drill in itself skating round so many people! We then split into three main groups: the refs, beginners (who got skills training on good skating form and how to stop and fall), and the more advanced skaters confident in taking a tumble or two who focused on main drills. We all got our sweat on then took a breather and flocked around Mother Hen Bette for skate maintenance.

We then scrimmaged for 2 hours – it was a lot of fun playing with girls from other leagues and major ‘bigups’ to the newer skaters who gave it their all and showed outstanding potential (remember my kind words ladies when you’re ready for bouting and go gentle on not so vicious El).

Then onto booze camp and the excellent quiz! (Yes you are all right in thinking that Russia has the world longest railway line but the question asked for all the lines conglomerated so that would be the USA… you gotsa listen to the question carefully.) The pub quiz was a lotta fun, and who cares who wins (congrats MMR!) so long as Oreo balls are shared lovingly. Dot, Feral and Bambi you’re superstars and I can’t wait for round two.

As a league we have had fantastic feedback on the whole day and LRG had the most wonderful time hosting you all, thank you again for coming, is great to have met so many like-minded women, and roll on the next get-together.

It couldn’t have happened without you: Bedford Bandits, Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames, Central City Rollergirls, Glasgow Rollergirls, London Rockin Rollers, Middlesbrough Milk Rollers, Stockholm Bastards and Windsor Roller Derby. Thank you!

el VISIOUS #138

Of course you do. Check out this bike-centric runway show from our friends at Cyclodelic at London Fashion Week.

On Thursday, 14 February at 6pm, local independent talent and established designers will shine a new light on cycle fashion, with the designs on the catwalk just as at home on the high street as on a bike. Brands on show will include established talent such as Dashing Tweeds and Saville Row’s Jan Cicmanec alongside up and coming designers such as Boulder Boutique and Archie’s Gro Bags.
The show, which will feature tricks and bicycle ballet by the likes of Paddy Waters alongside glamorous models on beautiful bikes, choreographed by Robyn Simpson, promises to wow the expected crowd of around 2,000 people including London’s fashion pack.
Emily Fleuriot, Editor of Fashion Monitor says in response to the event:
‘There’s definitely a common misperception that you can’t be stylish and cycle. You can - but it’s a challenge. As one of fashion’s bicycle enthusiasts I welcome all pioneers of functional, style-conscious clothes, which mean I can cycle AND look the part, whether at a hot showbiz party or a business meeting.’
The event is the brain child of Hackney Council and Tower Hamlets Council who aim to achieve a greater uptake of cycling by women by demonstrating how cycling can influence a girl’s wardrobe in a positively un-lycra but completely runway fashion.

For further information about the designers and the event, please contact Amy Fleuriot, Cyclodelic, on 078 8293 9905 or info@cyclodelic.co.uk or Louisa Clarke, Hackney Council, on 020 8356 8189 or louisa.clarke@hackney.gov.uk.

We’re holding a Roller Derby Boot Camp on Saturday February 2nd 2008, for skaters and referees from across the UK (and Europe and anywhere else if you can make it!) There’ll be off and on-skates training, mixed scrimmages and workshops on everything from refereeing to taking care of your skates and gear to setting up your own league, and a chance to meet rollergirls from all over the UK! This is not just for girls who are already part of a league, maybe there’s no league where you live and you want to set one up, or there’s a league near you that you’d like to join but would like to know some of the basics first? Maybe you’d like to referee? This is for you too! There’ll be something for everyone from the freshest of fresh meat to the girls who just like to hit people… All we ask is that you’re 18 years or over and have your own gear and bring it with you (skates, helmet, wrist guards, knee and elbow pads and of course a mouthguard.)

We’ll even take you out drinking afterwards!

SKATER & REFEREE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
If you would still like to attend, please email info@londonrollergirls.com