Music : All Music
This is a daytime event (e.g. starts late morning or early afternoon - see below for times).
Roll Britannia at Earl’s Court!
Dates: 17th July - 18th July 2009
Time: Saturday 10am-8pm, Sunday 9am-6pm
Get tickets at the website: rollbritannia.com
Roll Britannia is the first ever European roller derby tournament, featuring 12 teams from the UK and Germany.
Roller derby is a women's full-contact sport played on a flat, oval shaped track by two teams of five skaters, wearing protective gear such as helmets, mouth guards, and knee, elbow and wrist pads. Skaters take up positions alongside each other in a pack formation. Each team consists of four blockers and one jammer. Helmet colors or designs are typically used to differentiate between player roles. The jammer wears a helmet cover featuring two stars.
Initially leading the pack are special blockers known as pivots, who set the pace and give the other blockers direction in order to strategize and keep the pack relatively tight. Blockers who stray too far from the pack may not be allowed to engage opposing players. Blockers (including pivots) start skating at the referee’s first signal. A second signal is given to launch the jammers, who must catch up to the rear of the pack. Jammers navigate through or around the pack, then lap around the track until reaching back of the pack again. The first jammer to get through the pack legally (for example, without cutting the track, going out of bounds, or acquiring any penalties) is dubbed lead jammer and may call off the jam at any time.
Scoring commences when the jammers lap around the back of the pack and go through for a second time. One point is scored for each member of the opposing team passed by an inbound jammer (passing is determined by the skaters’ hips). Blockers try to stop the opposing jammer from passing them by moving into their path, hitting them with hips or shoulders, or throwing other players into their path, while simultaneously defending their own jammer, whom they can assist by pushing or pulling (whipping) in an attempt to advance them through the pack.
Roller derby is becoming one of the fastest growing sports worldwide, picking up new fans and players day by day. It's fast, it's exciting, it's not to be missed!
Participating teams:
Auld Reekie Rollergirls (Edinburgh)
Berlin Bombshells (Berlin, Germany)
Birmingham Blitz Derby Dames (Birmingham)
Central City Rollergirls (Birmingham)
Glasgow Roller Girls (Glasgow)
Leeds Roller Dolls (Leeds)
London Rockin' Rollers (London)
London Rollergirls (London)
Rainy City Rollergirls (Manchester)
Royal Rebel Rollers (mixed team made up of Middlesborough Milk Rollers - Middlesborough, Rebellion Rollergirls - Kempston, and Royal Windsor Rollergirls - Windsor)
Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz (Stuttgart, Germany)
Team East Angrier (mixed team made up of Brawlin' Angels Rollergirls - Bedford, and Romsey Town Rollerbillies - Cambridge)