Bristol Roller Derby

Bristol Roller Derby (BRD) is a roller derby league based in Bristol. Founded in 2010, the league consists of two women's roller derby teams, a men's team, a Co-Ed team and a fledgling juniors team.[1]

Bristol Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaBristol
CountryEngland
Founded2010
TeamsBristol Roller Derby A (Women's)
Bristol Roller Derby B (Women's)
Bristol Roller Derby Men's Team Vice Quad
Bristol Roller Derby Allstars (Co-ed team)
Track type(s)Flat
VenueMerchants Academy Bristol
Websitewww.bristolrollerderby.com

History

The league was founded early in 2010 by Tuisku Sarrala, Anna Wong, Laura Phillips, Laura Lopez, Maria Cormack, Simone Bennett and Verona. Anna Wong, who had previously played the sport in New Zealand, became the league's head coach for the inaugural year, before returning to New Zealand in January 2011.[2] Originally known as the Bristol Harbour Harlots,[3] 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.[4][5]

One of the league's founder members, Tuisku Sarrala (derby name The Blizzard), competed for Team Finland at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.[6][7][8]

On 1 November 2012, Bristol Roller Derby merged with another local roller derby team, Anarchic Die Hard Derby (ADHD).[9] ADHD's founders were skaters who were unable to join Bristol Roller Derby during a period in which Bristol's recruitment was closed.[9] Following the merger, ADHD became Bristol's fourth home team, bringing the number of active 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.[10]

In 2016, they were discussed in an article on bears associated with Bristol, in which members Grizzly and Bear Thrylls featured.[11]

League Structure

Travel Teams
  • Bristol Roller Derby A (women's, previously known as The Harbour Harlots).[12][13]
  • Bristol Roller Derby B (women's, referred to as The Bees).[14]
  • Vice Quad (men's team)[15]
  • Bristol All-Stars (co-ed)[16]

Home Teams

The league has four women's home teams:

  • ADHD
  • Daughters of Anarchy
  • Project Mayhem
  • Smash Vandals

Drop in Derby

"Drop In Derby" sessions are run for anyone over 11 wanting to skate or learn roller derby.[17] Unlike other training sessions 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.

British Roller Derby Championships

In 2016 both the women's A team and the men's team achieved promotion in the British Championships tournament, the men into tier 3 and the women into premier tier 1.

Their 2017 season was featured in the local press.[18]

On 16 September 2018, the Co-Ed All-Stars beat the North Wales Men's team to gain promotion into Tier 2 of the British Championships. This game was streamed on BBC Sport, a first for the team.

Bouts

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

Date Event Home/Away Team Opponent Results Won by Venue
11 December 2010 Tinsel and Torture Away Harbour Harlots Severn Roller Torrent 138–60 SRT
15 January 2011 Star Check : First Contact Away Harbour Harlots Tiger Bay Brawlers 173–37 TBB
9 July 2011 Painspotting Home Harbour Harlots Severn Roller Torrent 195–91 BHH UWE Sports Centre
13 November 2011 Away Harbour Harlots Croydon Roller Derby 123–117 CRD
26 November 2011 Away Harbour Harlots Cardiff Roller Collective: Rude Birds 134–125 CRoC
4 December 2011 I love Block'n'Roll Home Harbour Harlots South West Angels of Terror: A Team 167–107 SWAT WISE
2 June 2012 Hell and High Water Away Harbour Harlots Nottingham Hellfire Harlots 203–118 NHH
9 June 2012 Grime and Punishment Home Harbour Harlots Swansea City Slayers 276–46 BHH WISE
16 June 2012 Helter Skelter Belter Away Harbour Harlots Seaside Siren Roller Girls: Coastbusters (A team) 193–43 BHH
8 September 2012 Central City Rollergirls: Double Header Away Harbour Harlots (A) Central City Rollergirls: Slay Belles (B team) 24–211 BHH Doug Ellis Sports Centre
14 October 2012 October Double Header Home Harbour Harlots (B) Wiltshire Roller Derby 217–130 BHHb WISE
14 October 2012 October Double Header Home Harbour Harlots (A) Croydon Roller Derby 207–138 BHHa WISE
3 November 2012 Away Harbour Harlots (A) Birmingham Blitz Dames: A team 171–185 BHHa Futsal, Birmingham
11 November 2012 Away Harbour Harlots (B) Norfolk Brawds 153–224 BHHb
2 December 2012 Home Harbour Harlots (A) Rain City Roller Derby - Tender Hooligans
2 December 2012 Home Harbour Harlots (B) Wolverhampton Honour Rollers
26 January 2013 Away Harbour Harlots (A) Dolly Rockit Rollers 116–237 BHHa Midlands Roller Arena
2 March 2013 Home Harbour Harlots (A) Leeds Roller Dolls - Whip-Its 245-91 BHHa
2 March 2013 Home Harbour Harlots (B) Mean Valley Rollergirls 162-227 WISE
23 March 2013 Away Harbour Harlots (A) Big Bucks High Rollers 132-184 BHHa
13 April 2013 Away Harbour Harlots (B) Royal Windsor Rollergirls 204-131 RWRG
21 April 2013 Away Harbour Harlots (A) Lincolnshire Bombers Bombshell Bruisers 171-193 BHHa
21 April 2013 Away Harbour Harlots (B) Lincolnshire Bombers Damebusters 148-128

References
  1. Roig, Estel Farell (8 February 2020). "15 unusual ways to get moving in Bristol". BristolLive. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  2. SPYKSMA, HANNAH (13 April 2012). "Skaters redefine the sport". Stuff. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  3. "Girls on a roll with destruction derby", Bath Chronicle, 2 August 2010
  4. "Skate sport makes city comeback | This is Bristol". archive.ph. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. "UWE Sports Centre to hold first Bristol Roller Derby public event". Guide2Bristol. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  6. "Bristol Derby girl rolls off to the world cup", Bristol 24/7, 28 November 2011
  7. "Team Finland Announces World Cup Roster | Derby News Network". 7 December 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  8. Parkes, Pamela (3 December 2014). "We're on a roll with Bristol Roller Derby". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  9. "Die Hard derby love in Bristol! | Bristol Roller Derby". 28 July 2021. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  10. "Welcome to UKRDA Bristol Roller Derby – United Kingdom Roller Derby Association". 24 June 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  11. Parkes, Pamela (4 July 2016). "15 bears of Bristol you may not know about". Bristol 24/7. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  12. "About BRD | Bristol Roller Derby". 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  13. "Bristol Roller Derby (Women's) | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  14. "BRD Women's B Team | Bristol Roller Derby". 18 June 2021. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  15. "Bristol Roller Derby Men | Bristol Roller Derby". 26 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  16. "Bristol Roller Derby (coed) | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  17. "Drop in Derby | Bristol Roller Derby". 24 July 2021. Archived from the original on 24 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  18. Cable, The Bristol (3 August 2017). "Clash Of The Skaters: Bristol Roller Derby". The Bristol Cable. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
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