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