It’s the penultimate home game of the season for the Rollerbillies, who have been enjoying success recently in the Heartlands Series 2014 (a national tournament which they placed 2nd in overall last year).
No idea what roller derby is? Allow us to give you a crash course!
Roller Derby Cheat Sheet
– Roller derby is a full-contact game played on an oval track by two teams of five on quad roller skates.
– The hour long game is broken up into short, two-minute ‘jams’ in which the jammer (the point scorer, identifiable by the star on her helmet), passes through the pack, scoring a point for every blocker from the opposing team that she passes.
– The blockers must simultaneously assist their own jammer and impede the progress of the opposing jammer through forming defensive walls, blocking and throwing hits with the shoulders and hips.
– It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with some 1200 leagues around the globe and more popping up on a weekly basis.
– The sport originated in 1930s America, but was reborn in its modern form in the early 2000s.
– Players often adopt tough/punny skate names (like Dusti Knuckles, Fayetality and Raw Heidi).
– The sport was cemented in popular culture in the derby based Drew Barrymore flick, Whip It (2009). Watch the trailer here.
Intrigued? Doors open at 2.30pm on Saturday, with the game kicking off at 3.30pm. The Rollerbillies B Team, the Blockabillies, will also be taking on Suffolk Roller Derby – so you get two full length games of roller derby for £5 (advance). Tickets can be booked here.
You can find more information on the facebook event page here.
