Limerick Roller Girls

Dublin Roller Girls VS Cork City Firebirds Dublin Roller Girls...

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:32:27 +0100

Dublin Roller Girls VS Cork City Firebirds
Dublin Roller Girls Reserves VS Limerick Roller Girls

LKRG Bout Report (Player Report - Admiral Painway)

Sat, 05 May 2012 15:20:52 +0100

First-time bouter Admiral Painway’s account of her first bout.

(Slay Guevara, Admiral Painway and LouLou Black’n’Blu in action against Belfast. Pic courtesy of Lisa Whelan)
LKRG versus BRD was my first sports game ever. I had never been the sporty type, never one for team endeavours at all, yet as I sat on the bench, awaiting the first jam, I realised how far I had come since joining Limerick Roller Derby eight months ago.

I won’t reminisce about how for the first two months I struggled to stay upright and to learn the rules, the many, many rules. Or, about how I became friends with the most amazingly diverse, brilliant people and how roller derby saved me from the depressive state of unemployment I have found myself in. Instead I’m going to tell you what it was like to play my first sports match, how I fell more in love with this sport, and how I cannot wait for our next match against the Dublin Roller Girls reserve team.

We were training pretty hard in the run up to our game, but the bout started for me about a week before the actual event. In the run up I gave up caffeine, replacing it with two litres of water a day in an attempt to make my body a derby blocking machine. While I didn’t feel much of a difference with my body, my mind was another matter. The caffeine deprivation was hard and my mind snapped the day of the bout. Apparently I was flitting between moods, being angry one minute, laughing hysterically the next and sometimes I was just downright silly. I would have done anything for a cup of tea or a glass of diet coke, but no, I had to wait until the match was over. So I gathered up my crazy and took it out onto the track, and guess what, it worked. Every Belfast jammer, blocker and pivot was keeping me from my addiction, and I had to stop them.

It is difficult to remember exactly how things went on track. At first I was confused because I got sent off for a major penalty and I didn’t know what I did. Apparently we were failing to reform the pack quick enough and I was the poor sucker closest to the ref who was getting called on it. I did get called on other penalties, and for the life of me I cannot remember what they were, all I knew was that I was in the box four times and that was not good. Three more majors and I would be expelled from the game like our player Shelbe Achin’ who had to remove her skates and leave the arena.

No one was more shocked than our team to find ourselves in the lead at half time. For a rookie team going up against what was mainly the Belfast A team this was a major achievement. We didn’t expect to win the game, we never expected to lead. Sure we lost the game in the second half, but that achievement alone is something to be proud of.

The one thing I do recall from the match, is bowling my teammate Slay Guevara, who I now refer to as my bowling ball. In the second half many of our blockers were sent to the bench meaning we only had about two blockers of our own on track. All we could do then was make life difficult for the Belfast jammer, and boy did we do that. At one point I predicted which path the Belfast Jammer would take from the first whistle, I looked to Slay Guevara and she knew what I was going to do, she nodded, accepting her fate as my bowling ball. As the jammer came up the outside I pushed Slay as hard as I could and to my surprise and everyone else’s, she hit a Belfast blocker who knocked their own jammer out of bounds. I think that was my proudest moment in the game, apart from seeing my Mom in the balcony watching me play my first sports game at 28 years of age.

I expected the game to be really hard, to struggle to keep up my endurance and recover from hits, but I found that didn’t happen. Maybe it was the super healthy state all that water gave me. When the bout was over I felt like I could play another one, despite the injury to my ankle in the last jam. I guess it was the adrenaline pumping about my system and the lack of caffeine making me hungry for more blood.

I came out of the bout with much more focus and determination to perform well at our upcoming Dublin match. I know there will be another week of hell when I cut off the caffeine supply, another morning where I will feel like I am losing my mind, and another match where I will be so happy to play with the best group of women I have ever had the privilege to meet. Win or lose against Dublin, I am just happy to be a Derby Girl, learning new things about myself every day and pushing myself to new levels of fitness and crazy. And I think this is why I love derby so much, it is an adventure, you never know what will happen next, but I know I am ready for the challenge.

Admiral Painway

Bout Report - Mark O'Beirne

Fri, 04 May 2012 15:16:21 +0100

Thanks to our man in the stands, Mark O’Beirne for this report of LKRG’s first bout.
Limerick Roller Girls (LKRG): 109 - Belfast Roller Derby (BRD): 200

The Limerick Roller Girls (LKRG) have reason to be proud of themselves and can hold their heads up high after their first public bout, but may feel that they left an upset victory behind them. The newly formed squad went head to head with Belfast Roller Derby (BRD) on April 14th and showed why they shouldn’t be underestimated.

From the very first jam no-one held back as hits went flying and bodies went tumbling. Both teams gave as good as they got and it was a thoroughly entertaining spectacle. The first half was a nip-tuck affair with no quarter given or asked for. Over the course of the first half, the lead changed hands several times with both sides taking full advantage of power jams whenever given the opportunity. At the break, LKRG led by 85 points to 77 in a closely contested game.

The start of the second half acted as an indicator for what would follow. Penalties were awarded left, right and centre although it would be understandable if some players felt hard done by certain decisions. Power jams became the order of the day and for a while it appeared as though every jam was a power jam. The girls from BRD were able to get their discipline in check first and picked up some vital points as a result.

Once BRD took the lead in the second half, they never looked back. To rub salt in the wound, LKRG skaters were left to rue a stream of penalties which left them outnumbered. With just two blockers left to defend the width of the track or help their jammer find space LKRG found it difficult to keep BRD at bay. BRD were clinical and took scoring opportunities when they presented themselves. In the end, the Belfast crew ran out 200-109 winners.

LKRG’s MVPs on the day were Skatan’s Bride (Best Blocker), Ash Bandicoot (Best Jammer) and Jewel Suffer (Overall MVP). LKRG’s next bout will be against the Dublin Roller Girls’ Reserves team in five weeks time.

BRD are a strong side, but LKRG showed that they were worthy competitors and surprised many on their first public appearance. An upset was on the cards, but even when the result was inevitable, the team never gave up and never surrendered. Once the discipline gets sorted, LKRG will be kicking ass and taking names in no time at all.

Mark O’Beirne mostly blogs over at Sabre0001

In advance our our next intake, we are inviting people to come...

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:58:45 +0100

In advance our our next intake, we are inviting people to come and watch our training from 11am to 1pm on the 28th April and then have a go themselves from 1pm to 2pm. If you wish to attend then you wil need to email us to register. This is so we can try to have the correct gear available for you on the day. Cost €5 to cover cost of hall. Must be over 18.

For more information or to register contact: limerickrollerderby@gmail.com

"The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. But in roller derby, everybody wins when..."

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 20:15:10 +0100

“

The team with the most points at the end of the game wins. But in roller derby, everybody wins when they play because everyone in roller derby are friends and they all like to hang out with each other.

Everyone is so proud of all their friends on their team and on the other teams that they are playing. That is what makes Roller Derby fun and that’s why I want to play it when I grow up.

”

- This awesome description of roller derby comes from The Adventures of a Wondergirl, which is the blog of Caitlin, the daughter of LKRG’s ElitaOne. She wrote an excellent report of our first bout yesterday. Even though we have to wait a good few years before Caitlin joins her Momma on our roster, we are so glad to have her as a fan, and can’t wait til she starts playing derby with us!

More reports on LKRG’s first bout to come over the next few days!

Jewel Suffer gets Stalked

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:14:05 +0100

Jewel Suffer gets Stalked :

Earlier this year LKRG’s Captain, Jewel Suffer, was interviewed as part of Kate on Skate’s “Stalking your Favourite Rollergirls” series. Check her out, the big legend!

We really should have told you about this one earlier :)

Limerick Roller Girls on twitter

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:24:50 +0100

Limerick Roller Girls on twitter:

If you’re going miss the bout on Saturday but are just dying to find out what’s happening, keep an eye on the Limerick Roller Girls twitter account on bout day. The ever-so-useful Mean Seberg will be livetweeting the bout for the no-shows, no matter how over-excited she gets.
Of course, attending the bout will be the only way to get your hands on some awesome LKRG merchandise, so you’re definitely better off attending!

If you don’t do twitter, we’ll try to work out some technical jiggery-pokery to send updates to facebook too. We’re at www.facebook.com/limerickrollergirls if you’re not already our fans. (What do you mean you’re not fans, GET ON IT!)

Here’s the LKRG Roster for Saturday’s bout against...

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:02:45 +0100

Here’s the LKRG Roster for Saturday’s bout against the Belfast Banshees. We’re so grateful to Cork City Firebirds for releasing Bride of Chucky and to Dublin Roller Girls for releasing Cleoraptor to play with us.

Limerick Roller Girls first ever bout THIS SATURDAY!The awesome...

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:28:00 +0100

Limerick Roller Girls first ever bout THIS SATURDAY!
The awesome poster is by Lisa Falzon of the Firebirds.

Skater Profile: Bootyful Disaster

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:02:06 +0100

What is your derby name? Bootyful Disaster

How long have you been playing roller derby? Since the club was started - April/May 2011

Where did you hear about derby? My sister showed me a flyer for the Limerick Roller Girls.. Since watching “Whip It” (I know, cringe!) I had been going on to her about how awesome and novel roller derby looked!!

What appeals to you about roller derby? Silly Question - You get to hit people! Kidding :) While that is part of it, derby is much more than launching a few shoves at scantily clad ladies skating round a track! The skill, agility and endurance that’s required is nothing to be scoffed at, it’s tough but still fun and always rewarding! Also, most derby teams, including our own, are made up of dynamic women from very varied backgrounds. I’ve met some of the nicest girls that I possibly never would have never crossed paths with if it hadn’t have been for roller derby!

Are there any derby players or other sports people who inspire you and why? I am in awe of people like Atomatrix… this woman is roller derby! Champion speed skater, turned derby player with her own wheel/skate manufacturing business; I mean she lives it every single day… hell I’m slightly jealous even!! I am very much inspired by all of the ladies that make it possible to even have a roller derby league in Limerick :D I also have great admiration for all of the people working hard to get the Irish roller derby scene up and running! It’s at a stage now that it’s really starting to gain momentum, very exciting times!

Do you do anything else besides roller derby? While training takes up a few days of the week, I still like to go out jogging with my doggie. I work in a lab, a very sedate environment compared to derby!!

What are your derby strengths? Ack! It’s still too early to say what position I’m good at/like best! Aiming to be a good all-rounder.. that’s nice and vague right?!

What do you hope to get out of roller derby? Arms like Suzy Hotrod!!! That would be a nice consequence, but I would love to be part of a competitive bouting team, as part of a steady league.

Why are Limerick Roller Girls so damn awesome? Because they are all bananas!! And lovely to boot!.. And even if we don’t win the bout we’ll make damn sure to do our very best to win the after party!

Roller Derby – A Freshmeat Perspective.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:30:05 +0000

Jen Ronan is one of LKRG’s newest batch of Freshmeat. She wrote this piece for us. Thanks also go to Nigel Shinnors for his pic of LKRG celebrating their 1st birthday on Monday (Jen’s on the right, in front, in the lovely frock)

Being labelled ‘Freshmeat’ upon entering a new sport is probably the best way to weed out anyone with precious notions about themselves. If you’ve decided to enter into the beauty and madness of the world of Roller Derby, the term ‘Freshmeat’ gives you a giddy little thrill as your adrenal glands scream “Challenge Accepted!”

On Monday 6^th Feb, I grabbed my black and pink disco skates, told my innate laziness to find something else to do for a couple of hours, then ventured out into Rollerjam on the Ballysimon Rd to see what this Derby madness was all about. I was one excited bunny. I’d done a bit of research, which for me meant watching Whip It and faffing about on YouTube looking at the impossibly cool Derby girls the world over and how they could probably kill me with a single flick of the hip. I was hooked. I’d never set foot in a rink before, but I was sold. All those years spent in the 80’s skating up and down my parent’s hallway and carrying my walkman in my arse pocket while listening to Madonna’s True Blue album were finally about to count for something.

The first session I went to was a clinic where we got to see the roller derby setup in real life for the first time. We all got geared up, head to toe in protective pads, already looking the part – if you weren’t counting the terrified look on our faces. Onwards into the rink we went, all of us at varying degrees of skating ability; some had the basics down, some were like ducks to water, others were rusty after years of skating as children, others found it difficult to stay upright within seconds of arriving on the floor. It didn’t particularly matter where you were at that moment, everyone was there for one purpose, and that was to get on the road to becoming a fully fledged Derby Girl. You had to start somewhere. Those who fell a lot in the beginning would probably be masters in a few months. Never underestimate a girl with a desire for Derby.

Our group was under the guidance of Jewell Suffer and Ash Bandicoot, who made us feel as welcome as family. Within minutes of listening to them talk of their love of Roller Derby, you caught the bug as well. The emphasis was never going to be on how much of a winged wonder you were on wheels from the first time, it was about willingness to put in the work to get where you needed to be, the ability to take instructions on board, team spirit and above all, enthusiasm. You needed that by the truckload. Oh, and getting over the fear of falling…because that would happen. A lot.

Between the laps of skating, the different falls and the warm-ups, it was clear that Roller Derby was as good a workout as any you’d get in a gym – but way more fun. The embarrassment that comes with taking a topple in the real world quickly dissipates in the company of those who see bumps and bruises as Derby badges of honour. Time and time again we were told; if we fall, it means we’re not afraid to try something and learn from it. It also helps with that other essential aspect of the sport: Trust in your gear. Roller Derby is a contact sport – your gear is what helps you engage in it safely.

The team tryouts took place on Sat 18^th Feb, and this is where the fun really kicked in. All the drills from before, the falls, the stance, the leg crossover…no stone was left unturned. The best bit was getting to meet the established Roller Girls, who came along to help evaluate and support us Freshmeat, who were discovering new levels of ‘wrecked’ after all the drills. Then, along came the dreaded ‘25 in 5’ – aiming to cover upwards of 25 laps in a 5 minute gap. I’ve never experienced anything like it. A mixture of elation at being able to take off skating round and round the rink with only your own pace as your guide, followed by sheer exhaustion and an epic mental battle as you near the final minute. For a few seconds towards the end I’m convinced I was skating towards some kind of tunnel with a white light at the end. I think my favourite moment in the whole tryout session was the ear-splitting cheers and shouts of encouragement from all of the veteran Limerick Roller Girls who know too well the torture of the ‘25 in 5’!

We all made the team that day, and I’ve never been more excited to be part of something sporty in all my life. I’m definitely smitten. The Limerick Roller Girls are a force to be reckoned with, and they are the soundest bunch a new member could ever land on her arse next to. It’s going to be an exciting year ahead. The Freshmeat are raw, primed, pumped and ready to rock. Go Limerick Roller Girls!

[Thanks to all the LKRG team and coaches for all the encouragement and positivity from the first minute we stepped into the rink, it’s an absolute pleasure getting to know you all!]

By Jen Ronan

Aka ‘Rhoda Rage’ !

Ballistic Whistle visits LKRG

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:07:00 +0000

Admiral Painway sent this article in in loads of time. Blame me (Cleverly Crusher) that it hasn’t been published until now. Huge thanks to Nigel Shinnors for permission to use his photos.

Limerick roller girl hearts were set aflutter a number of weeks ago with the announcement that the London Roller Girls and Team England Coach, Ballistic Whistle would be coming for an extended training session. On Sunday 19th February Ballistic rolled in with Dublin Roller Derby’s infamous Shref and Jessica Rammit.

Ballistic’s lesson was a deconstruction of the jam, focusing on the different phases of a two minute jam and the various situations both jammers and blockers can find themselves in. Suddenly most of us were panicking, “Should we be taking notes?” There was so much to take in, many different types of walls such as the web, the philly (which I kept calling the picadilly), bus, two-one anchor, one-two reverse and probably some more I have forgotten. Yet, with Shref’s and Jessica’s guidance we were able to get the hand of these wall types quickly.

We then went through a couple of jam drills, with everyone getting a chance to improve their blocking/ jamming and their “derby brain.” “What the hell is derby brain?” I hear you ask. Well I have been informed it is not driving like you are in a jam, looking for gaps in traffic and trying to hip check overtaking bikers with your car. That I am afraid is just dangerous and I really should stop it. Derby brain is the ability to identify the strategies employed by the other team or the situation on the track and being able to pick a play to adapt and thus gain advantage.

After the three hours we understood why Ballistic is the big coaching name in England. His approach is respectful and fun but he also has an ability to clearly and concisely explain the drills and plays that we were unfamiliar with. Everyone in LKRG felt they got so much out of this session. We learned a lot, fell a lot, and then had a lot of fun at the unofficial after party at the Kilmurry Lodge, complete with cat show!

We at LKRG wish Ballistic all the best in the future and look forward to another visit in the future. Also a big thanks to Shref and Jessica Rammit (who we all developed big derby girl crushes on). It’s great to meet up with other derby nuts from Ireland and abroad. It develops the sense of community and cooperation between leagues while also developing our derby skills, which is the most important thing of all. Big derby love to you guys!

P.S. Personally, I want to know how Jessica is bruise free because on Monday morning I had 40 separate bruises on my body. Sure I’m proud of them, but summer is coming and I look like a shaved dalmation!

Admiral Painway

Skater Profile: Admiral Catherine Painway

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Once a month we’ll be introducing you to the stalwarts and newbies of Limerick Roller Girls. This month is the turn of our PR girl, Admiral Catherine Painway

What is your derby name?
Admiral Catherine Painway

How long have you been playing roller derby?
6 months

Where did you hear about derby?
The movie “Whip It”

What appeals to you about roller derby?
Getting together with a great bunch of girls to train hard and have the craic. It’s the only sport where you dress up and put on makeup to play!! I love the speed, the sense of elation you get when you pull a perfect tomahawk and your ankles are unbroken. Getting to say you are a badass because you are a roller girl.

Are there any derby players or other sports people who inspire you and why?
My trainer Catherine Costigan inspires me to be the best derby player I can. She is a kickboxing champion who is always positive with a “can-do” attitude towards everything.

Do you do anything else besides roller derby?
I’m a vegetarian, I love to read and write fiction. I also love to bake. I just finished my Master of Arts thesis on Irish Female Gothic Fiction. I’m looking for a job if anyone wants to hire me!

What do you hope to get out of roller derby?
Well I’ve already noticed I’m getting fitter and more toned leading to one cracking body! I love the amount of friends I have made and the social life derby has given me.

Why are Limerick Roller Girls so damn awesome?
We are awesome because we persevere. We train hard, we play hard, we party hard. That is why the roller girls are so bloody awesome!

What are your derby strengths?
I’m a good blocker apparently. For once I have found that being short has its advantages because it gives me a really low centre of gravity it’s pretty hard for a skater to knock me down. And when I do go down, I get right back up again!

A spectator's report on LKRG's first bout

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:30:05 +0000

So, you’ve read Jewel Suffer’s report on the bout between The Dockyard Destroyers and DRG Reserves, but what was it like for a first-time derby attendee? Mark O’Beirne gives us the lowdown on this life-changing event.

Armed with some titbits of knowledge from the ‘Whip It’ movie, it was time to check out a roller derby bout for the first time. Roller derby from a spectator’s point of view is easy to understand initially, but there are subtleties that become evident over time. For the uninitiated, roller derby teams are made up of five players: one jammer and four blockers. The jammer’s job is to make their way through the crowded pack and then on each subsequent lap, each opponent they pass scores a point. Of course, the blockers don’t make this easy for the jammer, but must also create openings for their own jammer to get through.

Roller Derby is all about commitment and hunger. Each person needs that internal drive to get back up, and get up quickly, after being knocked down and this is something that has to be applauded. Considering some of the theatrics witnessed week in and week out from “professional” athletes, it is refreshing to see players pushing themselves and not seeking pity after some rough-and-tumble treatment. With some of the hits that are thrown about it doesn’t pay to be soft.

On the day there were two bouts taking place. Dublin Roller Girls went up against Belfast Roller Derby and a rookie mix from Belfast and Limerick, aka the Dockyard Destroyers, went up against Dublin’s rookies. Even at the level of “rookie” the pace is frantic and the action is fierce. As a spectator there is a lot to take in as players overtake, collide, and are penalised in the blink of an eye. It is said that Navy SEALs have a perception of time where everything seems to slow down and you’d have to hope that derby players see scenarios in a similar fashion: bodies go tumbling, obstructions are formed and players must be obstructed or freed from the pack depending on the uniform that they are wearing. It is moments like this where spectators must be thankful to be tucked up in the stands.

The Limerick and Belfast mixed squad gave a good account of themselves considering it was their first bout and they had little time to train together. This was a trial by fire for the newcomers to the roller derby circuit, but they took on the challenge and provided an entertaining spectacle. There was no quarter given at any point during the bout by either side as they pushed each other to their limits.

When a team gets everything right, a bout can look effortless. Dublin’s first team had the right combination of flawless tactics, great individual skills and communication. All that can be said is that it was a phenomenal sight to behold. Each player knew their role and executed their duties flawlessly. This gave their jammers a much easier job to do, but even at that they showed some individual class as they squeezed through the smallest of margins, sometimes skating on one foot. It truly was a joy to watch.

The atmosphere at a roller derby bout is something that is quite unique. The Belfast girls still laughed, joked and danced despite the scoreline and the crowd appreciated that. If Belfast had a chance to gain some points the crowd gave them their full support and cheered as if it was a game winning jam. When players take a tumble into the suicide seats, the charming name for the front row, they are willed back up by supporters all around. Finally, when all is said and done, spectators surround the ring and high five players from both sides and the referees for a job well done. It is a novel sign of appreciation that you don’t see in many sports.

Roller derby is a unique sport. One of the misconceptions is that it is a sport that is only played and appreciated by those that are labelled “alternative”. However, the great thing about roller derby is that people from all walks of life come together to play hard and then socialise just as hard afterwards. It is a physical and demanding sport, but there is a finesse and elegance there that must be seen to be truly appreciated. There are many who witnessed Roller Derby for the first time recently, but are counting down the days until the Limerick Roller Girls play their next public bout. I’m not sure that I’m brave enough to take a suicide seat just yet, but I won’t be too far away from the action.

Huge thanks to Mark O’Beirne for writing such an excellent report!

What a weekend!

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:30:06 +0000

The upcoming weekend is a big one for Limerick Roller Girls. We are holding freshmeat tryouts on Saturday (starting at 1pm), and on Sunday London Roller Girls coach Ballistic Whistle will be with us for a session (starting at midday), along with Jessica Rammit and Shref from the Dublin Roller Girls.

Can’t wait!

There’s still time to apply if you’d like to try out for Limerick Roller Girls on Saturday - just email limerickrollergirls@gmail.com

A players-eye view of our first bout

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:08:00 +0000

The Dockyard Destroyers took on the Dublin Roller Girls Reserves as part of a double-header on Saturday February 4th. It was the first time for any of LKRG to take part in any kind of bout, and it was the first inter-league experience for Belfast Roller Derby. LKRG captain Jewel Suffer has kindly given us an insight into what a first bout feels like.

My alarm clock woke me at 7am last Saturday morning. I was delighted that I had actually slept because the anticipation had been building the previous evening. I had every intention of eating a healthy breakfast but as I took my first few bites I realised my mouth was dry from the nerves and I just gave up.
Skatin’s Bride arrived to pick me up and we packed up the car and hit the road with a minor detour to pick up the

delightful Noémie. As we cruised along the road rocking out to an epic selection of cheesy 80’s power ballads the nerves turned to excitement. We could hardly contain ourselves. That is, of course, until we actually got there. Then it all came flooding back. I knew that the only thing that would make the nervousness go away was to hear the first whistle.
In the Dockyard Destroyers changing room the atmosphere was electric. Belfast and Limerick girls mingled and shared jokes, helped do each others’ make up and offered words of support. We were all in high spirits to be surrounded by such an awesome bunch of girls. For all of us it was our first inter- league bout and I have to say from my own perspective I couldn’t have faced it with a better bunch of girls.
We skated out with happy faces, just glad to be able to be part of this fantastic event and took to the bench to await first whistle. Playing in front of an audience was nerve-wracking initially, but as soon as things got under way that melted away and we were totally preoccupied with the task in hand. The first few jams went really well and we were all a little bit shocked that we were managing to play so well. Then we hit tremendous penalty trouble and our inexperience started to show. Dublin took the lead and remained ahead for the rest of the bout. That’s not to say we didn’t fight hard and execute some nice play. There were moments where we played out of our skins and it even looked for a while that we might have been able to turn it around, particularly in the second half when we came out fighting. It was sublime to hear the roar of our supporters every time we got lead jammer or scored some points. They spurred us on so much. We realised in that moment that no matter how tired we were we couldn’t ease off cause we didn’t want to disappoint those loyally screaming supporters! But, alas, it wasn’t to be for the Dockyard Destroyers, and the final score was 168 - 79 to DRG.
When this was all over we got to sit back relax and watch the DRG Vs Belfast bout and see how the big girls do it! Both team showed off their tremendous derby skills but Dublin came out on top with an impressive score of 279 - 18. Then the awards were given out. I was incredibly shocked to be voted ‘Best Jammer’ for the Dockyard Destroyers. Skatin’s Bride was awarded ‘MVP’ and Sylvia Wrath from BRD was awarded ‘Best Blocker’. A proud day for all involved.
Oh, and as a final note we definitely won the after party!!!

Photo by: Chris Craig photography

Jewel Suffer

Skater Profile: Kickin de Jules

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Once a month we’ll be introducing you to the stalwarts and newbies of Limerick Roller Girls.
Our Girl February is Fabulous Frenchwoman Kickin de Jules!

What is your derby name?
Kickin de Jules

How long have you been playing roller derby?
Since it started in Limerick

Where did you hear about derby?
Whip it!

What appeals to you about roller derby?

- The speed!

- Being reckless

- Contact-I never thought I would enjoy a contact sport but I love it (I played volleyball for 12 years and tennis for 2 years so contact is very new to me)

- Falling… very weird to love this but it makes me want to get back even stronger. I guess it is being challenged that drives me.

- Tights! I have a little collection of tights since staring roller derby. My favourites are the zebra tights.

- And there’s a great bunch of crazy girlies to play with!

Are there any derby players or other sports people who inspire you and why?
Not really, this is ironic, I absolutely love this sport, yet I couldn’t name two famous derby skaters. This is embarrassing. I really need to find the time to get to know more.

Do you do anything else besides roller derby?
I work for a software multi-national in Inside sales for French customers. This sounds so boring I won’t get into the details.

I am also about to finally complete a degree in UL on top of work.

Like some other roller girls, I absolutely love baking and cooking.

Nothing else really worth mentioning. I tried learning Irish 5 years ago and found it more difficult than French- didn’t know it could be possible.

I love dogs and plan on getting one soon and I will call him Pepe Le Pew

What do you hope to get out of roller derby?
A lot of fun, exercise and a sense of achievement from lots of teeny things that used to scare me before but that I can do now (managing a t-stop, one wheel, rock star fall, looking like an idiot when falling, etc)

Why are Limerick Roller Girls so damn awesome?
Because they all have a little bit -or a lot- of crazy in them. It is definitely a quality required when joining a roller derby team. They also follow an “I don’t give a S*** what people think” motto which makes them adorable and admirable. Every woman in the world should aim at becoming a Limerick roller girl.

What are your derby strengths?
I absolutely love sneaking between people in a crowd, so jamming is by far my favourite position. I also love passive blocking when you just annoy other skaters by standing in their way but I really need to improve my “taking-hitability” and my “give-a-hitability” too.

The Dockyard Destroyers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:25:09 +0000

The Dockyard Destroyers

Limerick Roller Girls in the news

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:01:00 +0000

Big thanks to thisislimerick.com for featuring Limerick Roller Girls’ current Skate Clinics and Tryouts. Our next clinic takes place on Monday February 6th at 8pm in Rollerjam. Email limerickrollerderby@gmail.com to book your place.

Poster for the BLOCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN (Click for event details)

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Poster for the BLOCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN
(Click for event details)