Norfolk Roller Derby

Norfolk Roller Derby (NRD) are a flat track roller derby league based in Norwich, England and were the first roller derby team to form within the county. Initially playing as The Norfolk Brawds, they changed their name to Norfolk Roller Derby in 2019.

Norfolk Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaNorwich
CountryUnited Kingdom
Founded2010
TeamsThe Norfolk Brawds (A),
The Black Shucks (B),
The East Anglo Smacksons,
Mustard City Rollers
Track type(s)Flat
Websitehttps://www.norfolkrollerderby.co.uk/

While not a member, the league uses the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) ruleset.

League Structure

The league consists of four travel teams:[1]

  • The Norfolk Brawds (A team, WFTDA-aligned, formed 2010)
  • The Black Shucks (B team, WFTDA-aligned, formed 2015)
  • The East Anglo Smacksons (MRDA-aligned, formed 2012)
  • Mustard City Rollers (open to skaters of all genders)

There are also two home teams who compete in an intraleague tournament.

League history

The league was formed in 2010 and is entirely owned and run democratically by its members. The Norfolk Brawds competed their first full season of bouting in 2012.[2] In January 2012 the team announced their first major sponsor, local rock stars The Darkness.[3][4]

On 4 August 2012 The Norfolk Brawds held their first "open door" home event at the UEA Sportspark.[5] At the event, they served their own real ale, Bonny’s Gold, made for them by the local Golden Triangle Brewery.

The Brawds made their debut in their first major championship "The Heartland Series", the competition which became the British Roller Derby Championships, in 2013.[6]

NRD joined the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association in 2013,[7] but announced their departure from the organisation in December 2018 due to a dispute around grievance resolution.[8]

Five Nations Roller Derby Championships

Norfolk Brawds

The Norfolk Brawds competed in the precursor to the British Championships, the "Heartland Series" in 2013 and 2014. In 2021, the British Championships rebranded as the Five Nations Roller Derby Championships.[9]

In 2015, they participated in the Women T4 South East tier of the competition, where they beat Eastbourne Roller Derby in their first game, 246-40. Next they faced Full Metal Roller Derby's Herts Breakers and won, 564-21, before also winning against Suffolk Roller Derby, 243-63. Their final opponents were Killa Hurtz Roller Derby, who they defeated, 144-138.[10] This success took them to the Women T4 Playoffs - Southern seeded tournament, beating both Surrey Roller Girls, 305-84, and Killa Hurtz Roller Derby, 173-125.[11]

This performance saw them rise to Women Tier 3 East in the 2016 competition. They had a strong start, beating their first three opponents: Milton Keynes Roller Derby, 155-126; Killa Hurtz Roller Derby, 208-116; and Roller Derby Leicester, 315-79. They lost to Hertfordshire Roller Derby's Hell's Belles, 140-128, and to Seaside Siren Roller Girls, 164-133.[12]

A reorganisation of the competition saw them in the Womens T3 Regional tier in 2017. Rebellion Roller Derby beat the Brawds, 272-143, who then beat Bath Roller Derby Girls, 305-130. The league won their next game against North Devon Roller Derby, 303-66, and the next against Surrey Roller Girls, 473-65. Hertfordshire Roller Derby's Hell's Belles were defeated by the Brawds, 301-181, but Rebellion Roller Derby were victorious against them, winning 178-114. Killa Hurtz Roller Derby also failed to stand up to the Norfolk team, losing 316-91 in the Brawds' final game of that year's competition.[13]

This display of strength earned them a promotion to the Womens T2 UKRDA National tier for the 2018 season. They lost their first game to Rebellion Roller Derby, 299-79, but won the second, against London Roller Derby's Batter C Power, 214-89. Next, they played Auld Reekie Roller Derby's All-Star Reserves (B) and won, 261-124. Their following game was a rematch against Rebellion Roller Derby, and another loss for the Brawds, 207-194. The next two games were more successful for the Norfolk side, with wins against Sheffield Steel Roller Derby, 189-88, and Wirral Roller Derby's Savage Lilies, 348-44.[14]

Another year and another promotion; 2019 saw the Norfolk Brawds lining up in the Womens T1 Premier tier. SWAT Roller Derby lost, 291-88, to the Norfolk side, but they were beaten by their next opponents, London Batter C Power, 171-129. Their next two games saw Brawds victories, against Cambridge Rollerbillies, 329-38, and Bath Roller Derby, 263-91.

East Anglo Smacksons

2018 saw the East Anglo Smacksons, compete in their first ever British Roller Derby Championships season. They were in the men's Tier Three South competition, achieving a third-place finish thanks to a victory over local rivals Suffolk Roller Derby.[15]

Game History

Below is a list of open and closed door interleague bouts played by the team.[16][17]

DateNBRD TeamOpposing TeamScore
11 May 2011NBRD Travel TeamSeaside Siren Roller Girls23-188
19 May 2012NBRD Travel TeamDolly Rockit Rollers - Raggy Dollz B58-271
3 June 2012NBRD Travel TeamHertfordshire Roller Derby - Hell's Belles Roller Girls230-59
1 May 2012NBRD Travel TeamSeaside Siren Roller Girls - Heartless Beaches B182-141
4 August 2012NBRD Travel TeamRomsey Town Rollerbillies - Travel Team A55-288
2 September 2012NBRD Travel TeamMiddlesbrough Milk Rollers - Travel Team B196-124
7 October 2012NBRD Travel TeamSurrey Rollergirls - Travel Team A286-128
11 November 2012NBRD Travel TeamBristol Roller Derby - Harbour Harlots B153-244
9 February 2013NBRD Travel TeamBedfordshire Roller Girls143-120
23 March 2013NBRD Travel TeamBirmingham Blitz Damestba
11 May 2013NBRD Travel TeamNorthampton Roller Derby Vendetta Vixenstba

In The Media

Skater Gemma Seager (derby name Gem Warfare) raised awareness of myeloma in the local press after her own diagnosis, and also discussed her lifestyle blog and fitness regime which grew up around her roller derby training.[18]

Tarnia Mears of the league was named one of the 100 most inspiring women in Norfolk.[19]

References
  1. "OUR TEAMS". Norfolk Roller Derby. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  2. "Norfolk Roller Derby | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  3. "Concrete online Norfolk Roller Skating article". 6 February 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  4. "News about The Darkness delivered by Optimum Impact". News about The Darkness delivered by Optimum Impact. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  5. "Roller derby explained as Norfolk Brawds prepare to host their first Norfolk event". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
  6. "Heartland Series 2013 | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  7. "UKRDA Welcomes the Norfolk Brawds". UKRDA. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  8. "Norfolk Roller Derby". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  9. "Five Nations Roller Derby". Five Nations Roller Derby. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  10. "British Roller Derby Championships 2015: Women T4 South East | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  11. "British Roller Derby Championships 2015: Women T4 Playoffs - Southern | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  12. "British Roller Derby Championships 2016: Women Tier 3 East | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  13. "British Roller Derby Championships 2017: Womens T3 Regional | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  14. "British Roller Derby Championships 2018: Womens T2 UKRDA National | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  15. "MRDA T3 South 2018". Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  16. "The Norfolk Brawds Roller Derby :: Fixtures & Results". 15 June 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  17. "Norfolk Roller Derby | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  18. Briggs, Stacia (17 July 2022). "Gemma Seager: "My 'bad back' was incurable blood cancer"". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  19. Nice, Liz (28 September 2019). "So who are the 100 most inspiring women in Norfolk?". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
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