London Rollergirls

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The London Rollergirls (LRG) is an all-women flat track roller derby league and not-for-profit organisation based in London, England. Founded in April 2006, the London Rollergirls is the oldest all-female roller derby league in the United Kingdom.[1] The skater-owned and run league includes goals of promoting athleticism, charity, teamwork and confidence in women and aims to represent the diverse London area in regard to body shape, occupations, sexual orientation, race and nationality.[2] The London Rollergirls play by the rules of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

League History

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Since LRG began in April 2006,[3] the league has grown to include over 60 members plus referees and support crew. The London Rollergirls held the first public women's flat track roller derby bout held in the United Kingdom on 7 September 2007, [4] to a sold out crowd of over 400 people. The London Rollergirls held their first British inter-league bout in March 2008 against the Glasgow Rollergirls’ travel team, The Irn Bruisers, and their first international bout in June 2008 against Team Canada, a Canadian team made up of members from Toronto Roller Derby, City Derby Girls (Edmonton), Terminal City Roller Girls (Vancouver), Calgary Roller Derby Association, and Saskatoon Roller Derby.[2]

Teams

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The London Rollergirls have an all-star travel team called London Brawling, whose name is inspired by the song London Calling by U.K. punk rock band The Clash. Official travel team/league colours are pink and black.

In summer of 2008, three permanent teams were formed: The Steam Rollers, The Suffra Jets, and the Ultraviolent Femmes.

Public Bouts

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7 September 2007, "The Great Rock n’ Rollerderby Swindle": Intra-league bout, Team Pink 77 v Team Black 100

19 January 2008, "New Year’s Retribution": Intra-league bout, Team Pink 96 v Team Black 82

29 March 2008, "Riots of Spring": Inter-league bout, London Brawling 163 v Irn Bruisers 31 (Glasgow Rollergirls’ Travel Team)

7 June 2008, "Mutiny on the Mountie": Inter-league bout, London Brawling 128 v Team Canada 45

19 July 2008, "Summer Shovin'": Intra-league bout, Team Pink 89 v Team Black 79

27 September 2008, "First Blood": Intra-league bout, Suffra Jets 126 v Ultraviolent Femmes 94

25 October 2008, "Capital Punishment", Inter-league bout, London Brawling 274 v Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames 23

6 December 2008, "A Christmas Quarrel": Intra-league bout, Suffra Jets 103 v Steam Rollers 89

7 February 2009, "Clockwork Carnage": Intra-league bout, Ultraviolent Femmes v Steam Rollers

League Structure

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The LRG is a D.I.Y. member-run organisation with a board of directors and committees.[5] League committees include: Administration, Bout Planning, Events, Merchandising, Public Relations, Referees, Safety, Sponsorship, Training & Athletics, Safety, Venues, and Website & Forum. There are also visitor coordinators to provide hospitality to visitors from other roller derby leagues. League members are eligible to vote in league matters and participate on committees. The London Rollergirls has no preset requirement for joining except that skaters must be female and at least 18 years of age. LRG trains participants to roller skate and to play roller derby under a structured training program. Although skaters are all women, men are allowed to be involved in all other league roles (such as referees, support crew, and announcing).[1]

References

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London Rollergirls website

London Rollergirls Myspace page