What are YOU doing on July 19th?

This time I'm on Team Black. And Vice Captain no-less! Get your banners ready for the toughest match to date. We ran out of external ass to kick so now we're kicking our own!

(If you haven't got your tickets yet grab them soon as every other bout has sold out well in advance). And if you want me to reserve you tickets then let me know before THIS SATURDAY.

xoxoxox

An action packed weekend.

On Friday, members of LRG roadtripped up to Birmingham to watch Team Canada take on Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames. Canada rocked and are my new heroes. Especially Dolly Desctructo. EVERYONE loves Dolly Destructo. There is nothing quite like watching roller derby with all your rollerderby friends. We were hollering, screeching, whooping, bouncing, and laughing. It was the best.


We roadtripped back (again with the laughing!), and after a few meagre hours of sleep, Steve and I drove up to Donington Park for a day at the Download festival.



Now, I've never been to a proper festival before (sorry, Greenbelt doesn't count). It was so much fun! My fave bands that played were Skindred, Biffy Clyro, Ash and the awesome awesome Offspring.

We were lucky enough to have guest passes which allowed us access to the most fabulous tented area.

A quick powernap on the beanbags and some rockstar spotting was just what we needed halfway through the day. We ate until we felt sick, we cheered until we went hoarse. We rocked until we could rock no more.

Brummmmm

I went to Birmingham this weekend to watch 'The Clash of the Titans: Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames 'v' Glasgow Rollergirls'. I had so much fun.
I would never have believed that I'd go away with a bunch of girls and watch a sport, stay in a motel, train with another league the next day, have lunch with a bunch of girls and come home. I love my teammates, they're all so nice!

Team Pink: WINNERS!!!!

Well, it was one of the most gripping events I've ever been to.
Pink started off in the lead with several strong jams in a row. Then things took a nose dive with a constant stream of Team Pink to the Penalty box. We had consecutive jams with only three Pink players on the track. Black took the lead.

Twenty minutes in, Team Black player Ana Ki took a fall and broke her leg. It was a nasty break all the way through the tibia and fibula (you could tell this by the funny angle it hung when she tried to move!). It thoroughly upset me, but she was the bravest woman I've ever seen. The shock, I guess, keeping her laughing and smiling. An ambulance carted her off to hospital and we started on the second 20 minute period.

Team Black whipped out their secret weapon: Sky Rocket! No-one on team pink had noticed that she hadn't been played much, until she swept round- jam after jam, racking up points. Our team had lost focus. At the end of the 20 minutes we all went back to the locker-room for team talks. Talita, our line-up manager, did a brilliant job at re-focusing us and reminding us why we play this mad game on wheels.

The final 20 minutes, we pulled back neck-and-neck. The crowd loving the tension of a truly equal bout where it could go either way. Then, we hit gold, with Kitty DeCapitate scoring an amazing 12point jam, giving us a lead that Team Black just could not catch.


Here are some other people's photos from the day:
flickr1
flickr2

Team Pink were victorious, although the true winners were everyone of the London Roller Girls who put on such a great show for a sell-out crowd.

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Team Pink:
(from L-R)
Back row: Dot Slash, Bonnie Boiler, Kamikaze Kitten, N-Emma-si5, Slice Andice, El Visious, Talita, Kitty DeCapitate.
Front Row: Blue Murder, Bambi Manslaughter, Silky Briefs,Viva KniEVIL, Correctional Felicity.
Missing: Auntie Terror

Kamikaze Kitten

Has her her own bio here
Go Kami!
(there is still time for you to get tickets for Saturdays bout. Either get them through me or directly through the LRG website.

(and if you do come along- make sure you are wearing PINK!!!!)

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Steve and I drove up to his parent's new house on Christmas Eve. We had a wonderful Christmas day, with Paddy and Darla (brother and brother's lovely girlfriend) chief chefs. I was 'decorations'. We had such a peaceful, happy time. I love meeting up with people each year. Even though we see each other a couple of other times in the year too, there is something about the tradition of being with family each Christmas that helps you to think about the year that has gone by.
We drove back home again on Boxing Day, and were delighted to see our home still afloat.

Next year we are hoping to have Christmas on board Serenity. With family coming to stay and everything. I'll be able to have my very own Christmas Tree!!!!
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And one of the best Christmas presents this year was being picked for one of the teams for the next London Roller Girls bout. I'd love to see you there!

Helmet

Steve customised my Roller Derby helmet this week, between practises. I think it looks so awesome.
He's going to be putting a 'Step by Step' on his blog soon. I'll link to it when it is up.

(Can you spot steve's insignia on this photo?)


(Here you can see how the skulls graduate towards the back.)


(And my number- 9lives- on the back)

Kamikazi Kitten

Twice a week, Kamikazi Kitten comes out to play.



I am absolutely LOVING roller derby. It's the best sport ever (and I'm not a sport fan).

Cheapskates

I bought a pair of cheap second-hand skates off another rollergirl yesterday. They should keep me going until my Reidell Vandals arrive from the US. It was fun to bring them home after practise last night and tighten up wheel nuts and clean bearings. (I worked out why one footed corners on my left foot were so hard- there was about a cm of axel for the wheel to slide along). So all that is fixed, and I should feel a difference on Tuesdays practise.

The actual practise yesterday was great too. I even got to scrimmage! (although it was all I could do to keep up with everyone else and not fall over- never mind blocking anyone or stopping the jammer). I was absolutely exhausted 45mins in to practise and was surprised I made it all the way to the end. (practise is 2 hours). If the work outs I did at the gym were so intensive and full-body encompassing, I'm sure I'd have seen a bigger difference in my physique and strength after a year. Which goes to show- dump the gym and find a sport to get involved in instead. You'll push yourself SO much harder. (and most sports won't cost as much as the gym either!)

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And finally, some pictures of Vortex.

The Great Roller Derby Swindle.

This is where I'm going to be tomorrow:



If you are around, do come along. I'm helping out, and also get to see just what I'll be letting myself in for if i decide to get kitted out and join up.