Bristol Roller Derby

Bristol Roller Derby

Metro area	Bristol
Country	England
Founded	2010
Teams	Harbour Harlots A(travel team) Harbour Harlots B (travel team) ADHD Daughters of Anarchy Project Mayhem Smash Vandals Vice Quad (Men's team)
Track type(s)	Flat
Venue	South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Affiliations	UKRDA
Website	www.bristolrollerderby.com

Bristol Roller Derby (BRD) is a roller derby league based in Bristol. Founded in 2010, the league consists of four women's roller derby teams and a men's team. Skaters are drafted from the four women's teams into two travel teams (Bristol Harbour Harlots: A and B) which compete against women's teams from other leagues.

History

The league was founded early in 2010 by Tuisku Sarrala, Anna Wong, Laura Phillips, Laura Lopez, Maria Cormack, Simone Bennett and Verona. This group set up the first Bristol Roller Derby training session. Anna Wong, who had previously played the sport in New Zealand, became the league's head coach for the initial year of the league, before returning to New Zealand in January 2011. It was originally known as the Bristol Harbour Harlots,^[1] but that title is now reserved for its travel team. By mid-2011, the league had more than seventy skaters, and had hosted a sell-out bout.^[2]

One skater from the league, Tuisku Sarrala, known as "The Blizzard", competed for Team Finland at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.^[3]

On 1 November 2012, Bristol Roller Derby merged with another local roller derby team, Anarchic Die Hard Derby (ADHD).^[4] ADHD became the fourth home team for BRD, bringing the number of active women skaters to over 50. Together with officials, the Fresh Meat intake of October 2012, and non-skating members, the league membership stood at over 100 members at the beginning of November 2012.

In December 2012, the league was accepted as a member of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association.^[5]

League Structure

Harbour Harlots

The Harbour Harlots (A and B) are the travel teams for Bristol Roller Derby.

ADHD

ADHD was founded in early 2011 as a separate league named "Anarchic Die Hard Derby". Its founders were skaters who were unable to join Bristol Roller Derby, during a period in which Bristol's recruitment was closed. In November 2012, it merged with Bristol Roller Derby, becoming its fourth home team.^[6]

Daughters of Anarchy

Daughters of Anarchy are one of the four women's home teams.

Project Mayhem

Project Mayhem are one of the four women's home teams.

Smash Vandals

Smash Vandals are one of the four women's home teams.

Vice Quad

The Vice Quad is Bristol Roller Derby's men's team.

Drop in Derby (aka The T-Recs)

"Drop in Derby" sessions are run for anyone wanting to skate or learn roller derby. Unlike other training session organised by the league, attendees do not have to be a member of the club to participate. There are no attendance requirements or prior skating skills required.

Bouts

The table below lists the bouts played by the Bristol Roller Derby's travel teams – the Harbour Harlots

References