We’re proud to present the first ever London Rollergirls podcast! Presented by our very own awesome announcer BigCatMerv, it’s eight minutes of London derby goodness.

Download it here (right click and save). Keep an eye on iTunes for future podcasts to appear there.

Less than a week to go ’til Riots of Spring - get your tickets now! But to tide you over, here are the team lineups… (click banners for headshots)

We’re completely sold out! If you got a ticket, see you there…

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

London Roller Girls’ New Year’s Retribution was another sold out event, and the skating was harder and faster!!

Team Pink took a strong early lead in the first period and seemed unstoppable, gaining lead jammer and using it. At one point they were 14 points ahead, and finished the period 10 points in front. There was drama as early as the third jam, when Team Black’s Missyle Elliott cleared the pack and took lead jammer, only to be taken out by Team Pink jammer Correctional Felicity. Both jammers fell, and Missyle’s skate caught in the track rope, tearing it up as she scrambled to get back up! The track was fixed, and the bout continued, only for more drama to strike. The planned 2 x 30min periods were switched to 3 x 20min periods as Ana Ki from Team Black took a hard hit about 20 mins into the first half, and we soon realised she had injured herself pretty badly. An ambulance was called, and an amazing A&E nurse from the audience was there to assist the first aid crew. What a trooper—-her leg broke in 4 places :(

In the 2nd period Team Black staged a comeback, notching up an impressive amount of points as naughty Team Pink spent most of their time in the penalty box, sometimes skating 2 short. Penalty queen N-emma-sis visited the box a total of 8 times over the 3 periods, and Pink Captain Correctional Felicity at one point was sent off for a major foul, only to come back on the track and get sent off for another major foul ten seconds later! Team Black put in impressive line-up after impressive line-up to be 5 points ahead going into the 3rd period.

It was neck and neck in the final period, Pink catching up so the scores were even, then Black nudging ahead by one, then Pink….. The crowd were on the edge of their seats, it was too close to call - and then came the crazy jam where Kitty DeCapitate, running on pure adrenaline by this point, pulled out all the stops and scored 12 points (she says - “I was so exhausted and could barely see and my whole body was tingling, and I felt like I hadn’t even made one pass through!”). Team Black’s new girl wonder Grievous Bodily Charm was giving it her all, but was having trouble getting through the great defense of Team Pink—giving Kitty a double grand slam! The jam went for the whole 2 minutes, as no-one was eligible for lead jammer.

The next jam was the last. Correctional Felicity jamming for Team Pink stayed in the pack and acted as a fifth blocker, aiming to keep the jam dead, as far as points went. Team Black had nothing left to give, and the final whistle blew……. TEAM PINK WON 96-82!!

A big thank-you to everyone—-skaters, refs, support crew and THE CROWD! you were amazing and really cheered us on hard! we love that you loved it!!! We’ll see you again on March 29th for our next bout!

(All images by Tom Medwell)

It was a hard fought bout, and almost too close to call at points, but Team Pink had that little bit more and pulled it out of the bag at the end. We’re all still a little befuddled after yesterday’s exertions (and the afterparty…) and no one is quite sure of what the score was. We think it was 96-82… someone took a picture of the scoreboard, right?? We’ll have a proper write-up and a confirmation of the score up as soon as we can.

Thanks millions to the 400+ friends, family, rollergirls and derby fans who turned up to support us - another sellout! We’re gonna need a bigger venue soon! We love you all.

Our love and best wishes go out to Team Black’s Ana Ki who suffered a badly broken leg early in the game - get well soon! xxx

If you missed out (get your tickets earlier next time! ;), you can see some photos here and here, and some videos here and here.

Our next bout will be on Saturday March 29th - stay tuned for ticket details!

NEW YEAR’S RETRIBUTION: THE LONDON ROLLERGIRLS GRUDGE MATCH!

The London Rollergirls’ two hard-hitting, fast-skating teams will be going head to head on Saturday 19 January 2008 for a fearsome grudge match. It’s London’s second public roller derby match — our last bout was a 400 capacity sell-out event, so book tickets now or start looking for a pillow to sob into.

And you can expect more from roller derby bouts than your average Saturday afternoon sports match. As well as some seriously awesome athleticism, there will be a bar; half-time entertainment; DJs playing punk, pop, indie and electro; and cool raffle prizes to be won. You can congratulate your favourite rollergirl with a beer afterwards, at the afterparty in a nearby bar, details TBC.

ADVANCE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!! We’ll have around 30 tickets for sale on the door - get down early if you don’t want to miss out!!

See you there!