more Norfolk Roller Derby

We liked the dungarees/bare foot boys look of the Norfolk Brawds' coaches and helpers at last week's Bouty McBout Face roller derby.

At the Sewell Park Academy Norwich Saturday the caretaker (he probably has a posher job title than that) untypically was friendly (he sorted out the machine giving us the wrong coffee) and actually watched the roller derby.  The officials' sweetie stash included old fashioneds and surprisingly some remembered four for a penny Blackjacks, Fruit Salads and Mojos.  Despite committed derbying from the Knights of Oldham an East Anglo Smacksons win and thankfully no serious injuries.  Derby name of the day Rolling for Soup.

Our first roller derby of the year East Anglo Smacksons v Weald Warriors was in a new to us venue, the Sewell Park Academy Norwich.  Unlike most UK sports halls Sewell Park is well lit but not quite big enough for comfortable derby with the ref lane on one straight being little more than two feet wide.  Regrettably there was a problem with the scoreboard projector (like our remote flash) because in the latter part of the bout it was often a one point game with frequent lead changes.  In the end a Smacksons win.

The weekend before last we travelled to Easton college near Norwich expecting to make photos of a Jolly Dodgers scrimmage but what we got was a Norfolk Brawds v Grid City Division and East Anglo Smacksons v Suffolk Roller Derby double bouter.

The Saturday before last we went to the UEA Norwich to see roller derby.  There were no equipment checks, one minute penalties, minor penalties or tutus but there was free cake and some fine derby from both Norfolk Brawds teams and the Nottingham Roller Girls.

PICTURES

Today is the public debut co-ed roller derby teams Mustard City Rollers and Suffolk Roller Derby in Norwich ... expect pictures.

One of the many things that bemuse us (we're easily bemused) about roller derby is how the usually three or so Non-Skating Officials managing the penalty box keep track of six stop watches especially now a penalty has been reduced from 60 to 30 seconds.  So stunning Sunday at the Norfolk Brawds' minimalist scrimmage just one NSO was doing it ... and then we saw he had six timers on his tablet.

What seemed like a good handful of skaters had bailed out on the day of yesterday's Norfolk Brawds/East Anglo Smacksons open and co-ed scrimmage but in the event there were sixteen person teams plus some skaters splitting between bouting and officiating.  Encouragingly visitors from Suffolk RD, Full Metal RD and MK Concrete Cows and fun was definitely being had, at one point chicken sounds coming from somewhere in the pack:)

At yesterday's British Championship bouts in Norwich the Norfolk Brawds came from behind against the KillaHurtz (they're from Chelmsford) for a very emotional last couple of jams 144-138 win.

We wore our fanboy hat for The Norfolk Brawds fifth anniversary last weekend.  The celebrations included a Sur5al format tournament with guest skaters from LRG, the Billies and other leagues, a choo choo train and an absolutely brilliant cake.

Sad Norfolk Brawds at Easton College yesterday.

The Norfolk Brawds held their first ever co-ed scrimmage with some Suffolk Roller Derby guests at Otley College near Norwich yesterday.  Great stuff!  We saw our first pegassist with Kid Hell swinging Ben Jamin over the infield but Ben couldn't quite stay in bounds.  A star pass to Philthy Delphia over the blockers at the whistle did work.  There were a lot of star passes perhaps indicating we're still post Christmas plus a shortage of jammers obliging blockers to take their turn.  The Brawds expect to continue these open (you just need basic skills, a black and a white top and a fiver, trainee officials welcome too) scrimmages as a monthly event ... bring it on.

The Saturday before Christmas in Norwich the Norfolk Brawds hosted a three way (four way if you count the Brawds skating for White) mixed league scrimmage.  It had a definite Christmas air with committed skating, many official timeouts because the track tape must have been bought at Poundland, the Brawds sometimes taking ballet first position at jammer line starts and a shy HellLucyation on the score board.

It was the third flat track scrimmage for Malicious Wishes who has come from banked track derby, she told us she's still having to get used to taking her penalties immediately (in banked track penalties are served after the jam) ... derby name of the day Coco Shrapnel.

Yours Truly made the effort at the  Norfolk Brawds yesterday.

The UEA sports hall in Norwich yesterday for Jam Theft Auto had the usual sports hall rubbish lighting but is BIG, has tiered seating and the daddy of the trio in front of us was saying I know absolutely nothing about it but I like ice hockey.  It might have been the magic wimples but probably not that gave Slaughter House Sisters a comfortable win over Machete Mamas (a proper reporter would written the score down).  What was impressive was with five debutantes from Blue Thunder, three from Rockin' Rollers and other open door firsties the bout went off at 100mph AND the mixed league teams were organised ... looks good for derby speaking of which Amy and Ryan say Ipswich should start training at the end of the month.

We really wanted the Norfolk Brawds to do well against the Vendetta Vixens after they were mugged and left for dead by the Billies last month but at the half the Vixens had a comfortable lead (should have written it down).  Don't know how the Brawds came back but they did, nothing succeeds like perseverance (and power jams) with the game ending on a no score jam and us jumping up and down for a 164-153 Brawds win ... it could have easily gone the other way Vixens and Brawds, stay out of the box!

Saturday the first day of the Eastern division Heartland series was in the eight badminton court sized sports hall of the Catmose Centre in Oakham, it's actually a school apparently?  Not only did we hear how cute the Norfolk Brawds looked in their uniforms but they had an almost full team too but then the Bedfordshire captain was stuck in Luton airport leaving them short too.  Either way the Brawds had a good quality 143-120 win despite two virtually simultaneous majors (the only kind of penalty these days) towards the end of the final jam.  Nice to see Beds occasionally choosing to line up on the dear old pivot line despite one whistle starts and lots of baby Brawds spectating suggesting the Brawds will soon put a full fourteen on the track.

You couldn't say the Rebellion looked cute but we like their new tops, the previous dark green and white piping jobbies looked very smart but also made them look a bit like a table tennis team.  The Rebs followed in the Brawds tradition and put nine skaters on against fourteen giving them a steep hill to climb and eventually a 230-149 loss against an organised Mean Valley.  Thankfully no very serious injuries but a worrying bang on the head for a Beds skater, excellent beer at the after party in the Grainstore Brewery ... well it would be wouldn't it.

What struck us about last night's Norfolk Brawds roller derby training in Norwich was commitment and inclusion.  Commitment with a weekly three hour training session even though their next bout is not until August and inclusion with some newbie Cabin Girls who can just about skate and the league refs actively involved.  As with all roller derby bags of attitude ... and a bit sexy.  Pix on that there Facepack.

Yesterday's outstanding Brawl at Sea in Southend was the first ever roller derby bout for both the Seaside Sirens and Norfolk Brawds ... we were slightly taken aback by the smallest blocker and largest jammer we've ever seen on a flat track.