LOCAL roller derby lovers have high hopes of getting back into a jam or two, after the blow of losing their venue just as they were hitting their stride.
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New England Roller Derby League (NERDL) will hold an information session this month to introduce people to the contact sport.
President Brenna Paterson – who skates under the name Billie Phoenix – said she hoped to see women and men come along to find out more about the hard-hitting, fast-paced sport.
Then, on Sunday afternoons in February and March, they’ll be able to hit the track and get started on the basics of skating and roller derby.
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“Our league has been around since the end of 2016 and we were up and running for about a year, then we lost our venue at the Thunderdome on Anne St,” Miss Paterson said.
“It was really good: we had a co-ed league going and quite a few people getting up to competition stage.
“We’d also launched quadfit – a derby-based fitness program with no contact and focused on fun and fitness rather than games.”
Now, NERDL has gained the OK to take to a court at Tamworth Sports Dome.
Operations manager Sammy Bowen said roller derby was “such a unique sport that can really show the diversity of the sports dome”, which usually hosts more traditional sports such as basketball, netball and indoor hockey.
“It’s such a different sport we didn’t know if the timber floors would be suitable,” Ms Bowen said.
“We ran a trial and that was successful, so we’re happy to run a competition.”
She said she wished NERDL the best in building up its numbers again.
“It’s an exciting sport and the association is really passionate, so that’s a bit contagious,” she said.
“I hope other people feel the same and give it a go.”
Miss Paterson said “you don't have to have been a sporty person” to get into roller derby, and the benefits were many, including fun, fitness and friendship.
“I kind of feel free when I’m on skates; it’s freeing being able to skate around and be in a full-contact sport without running, which I’m not good at,” she said.
“You make a lot of cool, like-minded friends as well.”
- NERDL’s information night will be held on January 13 at 4pm, at West Tamworth League Club’s Dennis Condon room
- Skaters must be over-18 – please bring ID