Middlesbrough Milk Rollers

MMR Bring you FREE Roller Derby & Merby!

Women Try Sport Day

Men’s Roller Derby in Teesside

It’s a great time to be MMR

We can now roster an A team, B Team a good solid herd of zebras & still have skaters coming through just completing their min skills probation period.

So how happy was I to see twelve smiling enthusiastic faces getting kitted up for our May fresh meat tryouts? After a talk from our ref & coach Hombre Lobo and lovely captain Gunpowder Dot it was great to see them throw themselves into the drills (especially those that had barely skated before), under the gentle guidance of Head of Newbie Training, Titch. Also on hand to help were Nerd Flanders, Diamond Lil, Lisa Lawton.

It’s hard to say who was more excited at these tryouts, me or the fresh meat (check out the pics). Welcome to the MMR family, newest newbs!!

Kitty Ka-Boom #808

SPORTS TEAM IS ON A ROLL AFTER CASH BOOST

MMR RECIEVE CASH INJECTION

LOCAL roller derby team, Middlesbrough Milk Rollers, has become the first league in the country to secure a Sport England grant. The skate league has been awarded over £4000 to boost numbers, buy equipment and bring specialised training to the team. The grant comes just a year after the sport became a recognised roller discipline.

MMR will be hosting their first tryouts of the year on 12th February, at the Rainbow Centre in Middlesbrough, from 2.30-6pm. The team are looking to recruit a number of women and men to train up as skaters, referees and non-skating officials.

Captain Dot says:

“Being the first to get this grant is such a privilege and a massive achievement for the sport. Last year was so positive in terms of growth and progression. We just want to keep pushing forward and for that we need to bring in new people.  We can train up people of all abilities, shapes and sizes. The main thing is that people have the right attitude.”

The Sport England small grants programme uses lottery funding to make awards of between £300 and £10,000 to not-for-profit organisations to deliver new community projects, to grow or sustain participation in sport or to support talent development.

Middlesbrough Milk Rollers is the North East’s first roller derby league – starting in 2007 – and has a growing number of female and male members. Roller derby is a sport involving formation roller skating around an oval track, with heavy contact and tactical plays. The game has become increasingly popular in the UK over the past few years, and became an officially recognised roller discipline in the UK in February 2011.

When MMR started there were just 4 leagues in the UK. However, this has grown to around 90. The Milk Rollers are also a founder member of UKRDA, the governing body for UK roller derby.

To tryout, or for more information email info@middlesbroughmilkrollers.co.uk or visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MilkRollers

For hi-res photos, information about Middlesbrough Milk Rollers, and the event contact MMR press officer, Hayley McMahon on 07891334024

New Skater Intake - February 12th 2012

When and Where?

Sunday 12th February 2012 1430 - 1800
The Rainbow Centre, Coulby Newham

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MMR Player Awards 2011

And the winners of the 2011 MMR awards are….

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So you saw Whip It and now you want to be your own Hero…

Advice for newbies

Okay so I haven’t been skating for very long, 8 1/2 months to be exact, but I feel like I have acquired some valuable information during my short time of being part of a(n amazing) roller derby team. So I thought it might be nice to pass on some imformation and words of wisdom for any newbies or potential recruits to this wonderful sport.

… and from that note… it is a SPORT, just because we look a little more sparkly than the average women’s rugby team, we are athletes. You are entering into a team situation and although this means a lot will be expected of you- it is one of the greatest feelings in the world. 

So here’s my advice to you shiny new Newbs…

Borrow kit

Okay so I know it’s so tempting to get home from try-outs and sit on your computer for hours ordering the prettiest skates and the brightest wheels… but why waste your money? The chances are that you’ll only want something completely different in a few months anyway, and you’ll soon find out how expensive Roller Derby is!!!

Use your team’s kit for as long as you can then when you’re sure that skating is for you, get yourself a starter pack- they’re perfect for starting out. In case you didn’t know you can get them here… (http://kickflipboards.com/roller-derby/roller-derby-pack-deals.html )

After a while you can start your changing wheels etc. when you know what type of skater you are and believe me… you’ll appreciate it more!

 Improve your fitness outside of practice

You may think this is a given, but some people just don’t have the time. Between 2 or 3 practices a week, a full time job, kids, pets, family… or whatever your outside derby world consists of- it’s not always easy to get some extra exercise in. So how about you walk to work, go to the skate park with the kids on a weekend, take the dog for a run – instead of a walk? Try to incorporate exercise into your daily routine, squat as much as possible and I guarantee you’ll feel the benefit when you’re on the track.

DONT FLAKE

Okay so maybe the plank press isn’t the most pleasant experience and maybe core endurance isn’t for the faint hearted. It hurts like hell, but what did you expect? Drills are just a few minutes out of your life to make you a better athlete and you do feel better once they’re over so don’t flake- see them out to the end. Believe me there’s nothing more frustrating to see a team member drop out just because they don’t like a drill, or they don’t feel like giving 100%. Remember, someone from your training team has spent their own personal time putting together drills for you to do so give them that respect and MAN UP. You know you have it in you! After all you chose Roller Derby, you’re a feisty one!

 Get to know your team

So you’ve been coming to practices for a few months now and although you’ve probably got the whole team as Facebook friends- the chances are you still don’t know that girls name in the corner- oh and there’s that one with the bright coloured hair you’ve never spoken to.

Don’t take it personally, if you have a jam-packed practice session and a lot of skaters, the chances are there hasn’t been enough time for the team to have a chat with the coach- never mind asking everyone how their weekend was.

So go talk to an ‘oldie’, they won’t bite! Go ask for some advice, or spark up a conversation about wheels. Go to as many social events with your team as possible. They ask for volunteers to help with an event? …  Get yourself to the front of the queue, don’t be shy. You’ll be best buds in no time.

 Don’t get too caught up on your Derby name

So you saw Whip it and want to be your own hero… that hero does need a derby name- but don’t rush it. Once you’ve picked it you have to live with it and hear it during scrims and bouts. You should get to know your skating style first. You might be more a blocker or you might be a nippy little jammer and you might want to reflect this, after all this is your alter-ego. Name requests can take months to be registered. Check the roster for availability (http://www.twoevils.org/rollergirls/) if there’s anyone with a similar name registered already you may be rejected.  Remember having a Derby alter-ego/name is a nice little perk to the sport. It is exciting but don’t get too disheartened or stuck on it- spend your time practicing skating instead. At the end of the day it’s your skills that people will notice not your awesome name!

Enjoy it

Never forget the reason why you turn up for practice every week… you love it! Enjoy every second as a newbie, because believe me it won’t take long before you have a timid, doe-eyed little Bambi on skates wobbling over in your direction to ask your advice.

MMR Love as always,

Rocky Ell Boa

Photo courtesy of Jason Ruffell.

The Weekend of Derby! – Rocky and Roxy go South

Day 1

Guesting for Severn Roller Torrent (vs BBD) – 9/9/11

I’m used to getting up early, but hearing my alarm go off at 7am on a Saturday morning was not pleasant. However, the first thought that popped into my head was ‘BOUT DAY’ so no need to smash my alarm into a million pieces on this occasion.  After getting ready and meeting up with the ladies Bouting in the Dolly Rockits “Club Tropicarnage” Mixed bout and wishing them good luck, Roxy and myself were on our way down the A1.

As soon as we arrived, the Severn Roller Torrent girls welcomed us with open arms and explained their tactics.  They gave Roxy the task of Penalty Tracking and we warmed up. As the audience seats started to fill up, my stomach started doing back flips! Our Skate Out was James Bond Themed which involved a bit of finger-pistol action.  Once over it was time for the first whistle.

 I was put on to Jam in the Second line-up, BBD hit hard and were playing a defensive game.  Big hits were aimed at me and the other Jammers for the majority of the game. At the end of the first half it was 8-68 to BBD.

We headed to the changing room for a half time pep talk and Severn were far from defeated, we headed out raring to go! What a difference it made! The hits were bigger, the Jammers got their fair share of Lead jammer and the points escalated. Unfortunately the point differential was too great and BBD carried on as they had begun. The final score was 56-120 to BBD

Although it was a loss, Severn Roller Torrent didn’t stop attacking until the final whistle. It was a pleasure Guesting for them and I’d like to thank them for the awesome opportunity… and the free T-Shirt! :)

 Rocky x

 
Day 2

Hot Milk Imp Cats vs Royal Windsor Roller Girls – Closed Bout – 10/9/11

 We awoke to 5 missed calls and a voicemail message from The Little Grr-maid and Modest Moose who had been celebrating their respective Win and Loss having been on opposite teams of the Dolly Rockits Mixed teams in Leicester.  It was time to prepare for the 2 hour road trip from Gloucester to Staines to play RWRG.

 On our arrival to the Leisure Centre we were greeted by the rest of our team from Wakey Wheeled Cats, The Imposters and Hot Wheels Roller Derby, as well as the Royal Windsor lot.  Everyone was raring to go and it was time to get our Kit on.

 The track was laid and a PA system set up to accompany the bout.  We had a brief team warm-up and then it was time for the first whistle.  We didn’t have a Line-up or Bench Manager so we were left to fend for ourselves. 

 The first period went well with the Hot Milk Imp Cats only being very slightly in the lead, very impressive on Royal Windsors behalf who were fielding a lot of their newer players.  We used Halftime to re-hydrate and regroup, talking through anything that went well or needed to be improved in the second period.  It was soon time to get back on track.

 In the second period the experience and strength of the Hot Milk Imp Cats shone through giving them the advantage over the Royal Windsor Team.  Ending with a win to the Mixed Team Visitors.  Congratulations to RWRG who put up a good fight with an impressive show of skills from their team.  You did not make it easy for us.

 Royal Windsor were lovely hosts, sending us away with badges, stickers and lots of chocolate.  We’ll be there in a shot next time!

 It was lovely playing with Wakey and Hot Wheels again.  Last time was as part of the Mixed Team, United Rollers, where we beat LRD’s Whip-Its.  Hope to play with you guys again soon, the Imposters too.

 Unfortunately, with the bout over it was time for our mammoth drive home.  This was not helped by the hour of traffic we sat in, where we moved a total of 2 miles!  To console ourselves we resorted to Burger King! But all in all it was an awesome weekend of Derby.

 Roxy x

Photos by: Rik ‘T-Rix’ Travers

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Special Thanks to Popcorn Skates for printing our Team T-Shirts so we could wear them over the weekend! They will be getting Derby stock in asap! Check out their website - www.popcornskate.co.uk