Bristol Roller Derby

Bristol Roller Derby

Metro area	Bristol
Country	England
Founded	2010
Teams	Bristol Roller Derby A (Women's travel team) Bristol Roller Derby B (Women's travel team) Bristol Roller Derby Men's Team (Vice Quad) Bristol Roller Derby Allstars (Co-ed team)
Track type(s)	Flat
Venue	Merchants Academy Bristol
Affiliations	UKRDA
Website	www.bristolrollerderby.com

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..

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.

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.

History[]

The league was founded early in 2010 by Tuisku Sarrala, Anna Wong, Laura Phillips, Laura Lopez, Maria Cormack, Simone Bennett and Verona. This group set up the first Bristol Roller Derby training session. Anna Wong, who had previously played the sport in New Zealand, became the league's head coach for the initial year of the league, before returning to New Zealand in January 2011. It was originally known as the Bristol Harbour Harlots,^[1] but 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.^[2]

One skater from the league, Tuisku Sarrala, known as "The Blizzard", competed for Team Finland at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.^[3]

On 1 November 2012, Bristol Roller Derby merged with another local roller derby team, Anarchic Die Hard Derby (ADHD).^[4] ADHD became the fourth home team for BRD, bringing the number of active women 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.^[5]

League Structure[]

Harbour Harlots[]

The Harbour Harlots (A and B) are the travel teams for Bristol Roller Derby.

ADHD[]

ADHD was founded in early 2011 as a separate league named "Anarchic Die Hard Derby". Its founders were skaters who were unable to join Bristol Roller Derby, during a period in which Bristol's recruitment was closed. In November 2012, it merged with Bristol Roller Derby, becoming its fourth home team.^[6]

Daughters of Anarchy[]

Daughters of Anarchy is one of the four women's home teams.

Project Mayhem[]

Project Mayhem was one of Bristol Roller Derby's original home teams, circa 2011–2013.

Smash Vandals[]

Smash Vandals is one of the four women's home teams.

Vice Quad[]

The Vice Quad is Bristol Roller Derby's men's team.

Drop in Derby (a.k.a. The T-Recs)[]

"Drop In Derby" sessions are run for anyone wanting to skate or learn roller derby. Unlike other training session 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. For more information or to contact Drop In, take a look here.

Bouts[]

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

References[]