Canberra Roller Derby League
 |
|
| Coordinates | 35°24′53.87″S 149°3′46.59″E / 35.4149639°S 149.0629417°ECoordinates: 35°24′53.87″S 149°3′46.59″E / 35.4149639°S 149.0629417°E |
|---|---|
| Metro area | Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |
| Country | Australia |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Teams | Black N Blue Belles Red Bellied Black Hearts Brindabelters Surly Griffins |
| Track type(s) | Flat |
| Venue | AIS Arena, Southern Cross Stadium, Tuggeranong |
| Affiliations | WFTDA |
| Website | canberrarollerderbyleague.com |
The Canberra Roller Derby League (CRDL) is a Canberra-based all-women's roller derby league. It was created in 2008, with the first occurring in 2009. Skaters joined the league during "Fresh Meat" and "Boot Camp" intakes, where they learn skating and derby skills before appearing in bouts nine to twelve months later.
Originally there were two teams: the Black N Blue Belles and the Surly Griffins. In 2010, the league expanded to four teams with the addition of the Red Bellied Black Hearts and the Brindabelters. In addition, there is an all-star team called the Vice City Rollers that competes in interstate bouts against teams from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide.
At home bouts, the league has attendances as high as 5,000, and has its own stable of male referees who officiate the league and interstate bouts. The 2009 season was won by Surly Griffins and the 2010 season by the Black N Blue Belles. The 2011 season had six bouts scheduled, with the league championship to occur in October 2011. The league's bouts are aired on ChannelVision, and they have had media coverage from 666 ABC Canberra.
Canberra's representative team (which one imagines may struggle to attract ACT Government funding with such a name) is the Vice City Rollers. As I never tire of saying, the sheer diversity of Canberra life now, as exemplified by our having both a prostate-tinglingly terrific symphony orchestra and something as maniacal as an all-Amazon Roller Derby League, supports my belief that Canberra is the best city it's ever been.
The Canberra Roller Derby League (CRDL) was established in 2008 as a volunteer organisation intended to promote roller derby, women's health and sport in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The league was created by Bullseye Betty (Kate Murphy) and Dr Hell (Helen Doyle). Other early members include Roulette Rouge (Lucy Quinn) and Peachy Keen. The league was intended to resemble the burlesque, and was the first roller derby league in the ACT.
The league's first practices took place in parking lots around the Territory. Dr Hell and Bullseye Betty helped get a screening of the Roller Derby Dolls on 28 July 2008 at The Front Cafe and Gallery in Lyneham in order to generate membership in the new league. At the start of its first season, the league had 26 skaters. The first public bout in 2009 took place at Southern Cross Stadium, Tuggeranong, before a sell out crowd. At the end of the 2009 season, additional information nights were held at The Front Cafe and Gallery on 25 August 2009 and The Hush Lounge in Phillip on 30 August 2009, and the league held a demonstration at the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships. On 21 November 2009, it held a roller derby rodeo at the Southern Cross Stadium with tickets being sold at Smith's Bookshop. By 2011, tickets for the league's events would be sold through Ticketek.
...
Wikipedia