Team Dragon Roller Derby

Name - Flash Gorgon

Number -  33

Home league -  London Rollergirls Recreational League

How long have you been playing derby?  Two whole years and a half.

What is your favourite position to play on track?  Blocker but I'm warming up to jamming. Future me would like to be a really good pivot.

Who are you off track? I’m a venue manager in a music, circus and theatre venue. I know where stage left is and I can listen to two conversations at once. I can always tell you how many people are in a room.

Likes -  Standard issue roller derby hobbies like cats and crafts, business orientated non-fiction, conkers, having a theme song, smoke bubbles and lasers.

Dislikes -  small round food.

Who’s your derby crush? Wowser so many. I tend to watch lanky people most so Fisti Cuffs, Kid Block, Fellow dragon Long Tall Scally.  Loren Mutch obvs.  The speed, the juking, the strength. Swoon!

Worst injury?  I broke my little toe. Who knew toes were so important to walking and balance and life? And skating.

What has been your most magical derby moment?  Playing a bout with Black Rock City Roller Girls at Burning Man was crazy and awesome. My first Sur5val with Rec was very special – I jammed against a pack of our Main League skaters and lived to tell the tale!

Random Flash Fact! I chose my own middle name when I was 8 years old. And I nearly picked Rainbow Brite. Kinda wish I had - Flash Rainbow Brite Gorgon sounds cool.

© Nikki McGlinn

© Jack C Oldridge

Name – Dr Jean Knockout

Number -  MAU5 soon to be p53

Home league -  LRG rec league

How long have you been playing derby?  Almost 3 years! Eeeeeek!

What is your favourite position to play on track? I love doing all the offense to make a clear boulevard for my jammer or sit real hard so everyone gets stuck behind me. I tend to be the loud mouth and like to have the Pivot stripe in case the jammer needs to pass. Partial to the odd jam when my heart is in it.

Who are you off track? I am scientist wanting to understand how we, Humans, work at the molecular level to help rid us of diseases. I zap chromosomes with radiations and paint them with a tiny tiny paintbrush so they glow in the dark and I measure things with a tiny tiny tape measure. I moonlight as a waitress at the moment until I get to save the world. When not derbying, I can be found playing football (the lack of ball in derby had to be addressed) or hiking parks and up mountains.

Likes -  Cheese, Rum. Tequila, Cake (even though it’s a lie) and Sciencey/geeky stuff.

Dislikes -  Raw tomatoes, watermelon, cucumber and people with no manners or who jump the queue.

Who’s your derby crush?  Tracy Akers. She is so amazingly good and super nice too! *fangirl*

Also Shaolyn Scarlett because she is so fierce yet super nice! Raw Heidi because she is the coolest (she totes paid me to say that).

Worst injury?  Shattered left fibula now bionic with plate and bolt (doesn’t beep at the airport though. Gutted) which left me approx. 4 months offskates and about 6 months no contact. Touch wood no more!

What has been your most magical derby moment?  Getting lead Jammer against Kamikaze Kitten during the scrimmage at Brawlgust 2014. Next step was to score points but she got scared and retired before I could! XD

Random Dr Knockout Fact! I was born 1 month and 20 days early and was super tiny (2.1kgs)

© Steve Fox Photography

© Mindy Cherry Photography

Name – Lethal Drizzle

Number -  73

Home league -  London Rollergirls Recreational League

How long have you been playing derby? About 2 years now, I think!

What is your favourite position to play on track?  Being a jammer is probably my favourite but I also love blocking, really seeing the jammer work is such an achievement ‘cos I know how that feels!

Who are you off track?  I have recently moved to London from the Netherlands so am still finding my feet here. I currently work in a theatre and do some voluntary work in film archives.

Likes -  Coffee, films, lifting weights, dark chocolate, time-travel and red wine.

Dislikes -  Cauliflower, fennel and velvet being brushed the wrong way *shudders*.

Who’s your derby crush?  I love watching Fifi Nomenon, she is probably my derby hero. I also have a massive crush on all of Auld Reekie Roller Girls, I did my fresh meat with them and they are so enthusiastic and inspiring – ARRG will always have a place in my heart!

Worst injury?  I broke my ankle in the second week of fresh meat. I still came back though, perhaps with even more enthusiasm! My family kept asking if I could pick a ‘less dangerous’ hobby, that made me laugh.

What has been your most magical derby moment? Scoring the first set of points in a tough game against Rotterdam at the Dutch National Champions was an awesome feeling. Though, to be honest, anytime I am on track with my teammates always feels magical.

Random Lethal Fact! I went to clown school but wasn't a very good clown.

© Patrick Spruytenburg fotografie

© Branko Collin

Name - The Gruffa-low

Number -  2004

Home league -  LRG Rec League

How long have you been playing derby?  I completed our freshmeat course in June 2012 but got pregnant in October 2013 so roughly around 3 years now

What is your favourite position to play on track? I am a blocker who loves to jam

Who are you off track? I am a slightly crusty, very thrifty montessori mum of 2. I love food, films & music festivals (put roller derby in the equation & that'll be heaven = a roller derby music festival oooh)

Likes -  hugs, kindness, silly things, eating yummy food, not rushing, freshly washed sheets, naps, zombies & discovering things.

Dislikes -  nastiness, cleaning out the kitty litter, bad manners, the sound of water dripping or pouring, high heels, NOT eating.

Who’s your derby crush? eeeeee! I have tons- you're probably one of them ;) but bork bork bork from Windy City Rollers is my most favourite of them all. She is communicative, have amazing track awareness & athletic!

Worst injury? if you don't count my 9 month injury :p I seem to do things in twos; 2 x Grade 2 sprained ankle, 2 x Grade 2 sprained knees (left & right) and 2 x concussions

What has been your most magical derby moment? Everytime I have been off skates for awhile (due to injury etc) and then I get to strap my skates back on & play - those first times have always been magical to me :)

Random Gruff Fact! I always try to recreate the perfect meal through every bite - I have my mains with the dessert in a spoon & a perfectly timed drink.

© Floyd King

© Jonathan Wei Dickson

Name - Aline Decat

Number - 6

How long have you been playing derby?  4 years minus baby

What is your favourite position to play on track?  Any, Really. I often end up being a pivot.

Who are you off track?  A weirdo and an idiot, clearly, but it takes some digging to find out. I'm shy, which is often mistaken for vainglory. I make images, moving or not. I'm still tall without skates on.

Likes -  Other weirdos, travels, hummus, MaryKut, peanut butter, Nash the Slash, challenges, art, private jokes, and if you want to buy me a drink, I'll go for dry whisky or Southern Comfort with Canada Dry.

Dislikes - Bad energy, bananas, animal cruelty mainly, and I could describe a few particular situations that I intensely hate, but I' ve learned how to come to terms with those.

Who’s your derby crush?  I don't have any crush in particular, but being quite tall, I like to watch other tall players deal with their length and use it to their advantage. I am constantly interested in watching skaters like Master Blaster, Kid Block, Sexy Slaydie, Jessica Rammit, Swede Hurt. I actually have most crushes for my team mates. I recently loved blocking wih War Gina from Vienna Roller Derby, and Rusty Stiletto and Dee I.Why from Team Dragon, and I was really impressed by Herbie Licious from SDRD's strategic and communication skills in Eastbourne this summer. Also I remember an awesome wall we did at World Cup with Team Belgium againt Team Italy, that left me in total awe for my 3 co-blockers. I also admire great bench coaches and line-up managers I've had. And then I admire a lot of people in derby who are not players, but there are way too many to name them all.

Worst injury? A black eye but I liked it actually. Except it was just before a photo shoot.

What has been your most magical derby moment?  Oh god I've had so many! Although I have to say traveling to Sweden for Blackland Teenage Terrors' first away game was pretty crazy. The world cup, of course, like EROC 2015 and I love coaching bootcamps A LOT but actually every new derby event ends up topping all the other ones. Onwards and upwards.

Random Aline Decat Fact! I would love to visit Ulan Bator one day.

© Vinciane Pierrart

© David A Carter Photography

Name – Tiny Temper Number - 7 Home league - Seaside Siren Roller Girls How long have you been playing derby?  4 Years What is your favourite position to play on track?  Pivot; I’ve been working a lot on blocking and I feel like I’ve improved a lot, this season I really need to work on getting back into jamming and getting my fitness up due to my asthma. I feel like pivot helps me to transition well between the two. Who are you off track?  Enjoyer of kittens, photography and a dirty martini Likes – Cheeeeeese, vegetarian goods, cocktails and baking … preferably together.  Dying my hair obviously. Dislikes - Cauliflower, people licking their fingers, excessive use of beanburgers Who’s your derby crush?  Oooft just so many! My first, as with many people was Kamikaze Kitten, just so beautiful to watch, but I really like to watch smaller skaters now like Juicy Lucy and The Bexorcist, there’s so many things I can learn from those sorts of people to help me with my own skating. There’s plenty of people to admire in this sport that’s for certain. Worst injury?  Partially dislocated shoulder, cracked rib, torn half the ligaments in my left ankle. I count myself pretty lucky, I’ve seen a lot of painful stuff go down! What has been your most magical derby moment? Gosh, there really has been so many! Playing in Berlin was really fun as I’d never done an international game before. It’s really exciting this season to be part of the first British Roller Derby Championships with the Sirens, our home leg is this Saturday! (Shameless plug - https://www.facebook.com/events/634168440043940 ) Random Tiny Fact!  A squirrel once jumped on my head and would not get off.

© Roller Derby On Film

© Peter Worth Photography

Name – Captain Havoc Number -  8 Home league - London Rollergirls Recreational League.  How long have you been playing derby?  Very nearly three years. What is your favourite position to play on track?  For the first time ever, I am enjoying blocking and jamming pretty much equally! The pivot pantie still gives the wibbles a bit, but I am overcoming it slowly, and managing to make my naturally very quiet voice a lot shoutier on track! Who are you off track?  I'm a book and paper conservator, which means I fix and look after old books and documents that have seen better days. Likes -  Penguins, tea, nauticalia. Dislikes -  Herbal tea, norovirus, getting sent to the penalty box. Who’s your derby crush?  Bulletproof Glass, my old captain from the Auld Reekie Roller Girls B team. She is kind, inspiring and a terrifying blocker, I want to be like her when I grow up. Worst injury?  I bent a finger back rather nastily on a team-mate's bum once, but aside from that I've been very lucky so far... What has been your most magical derby moment?  Captaining the Team Dragon B team in their inaugural game was pretty awesome, especially considering how nervous I was beforehand! Random Havoc Fact!  I can read Old Norse and my cat has three legs. These two facts are unrelated.

Photo © Chris Brown

Photo © Thomas Mathieson

Name - Skorokoro

Number -  (no number)

Home league -  London Rollergirls

How long have you been playing derby? I started playing and refereeing in November 2013. Last year I gave up playing to give my time to officiating, and having the time to be on the Dragons bench team has been a wonderful perk!

What is your favourite position to play on track? Line up manager. There's very little stress and I just get to hang out with all the awesome skaters.

Who are you off track? A physics PhD student - I spend much of my working day locked in a basement with a giant microwave oven, playing with lasers and magnets and beams of atoms. I try to spend the rest of the day crafting and making tasty cake (and eating tasty cake), and planning electronics and programming projects that I never quite get around to carrying out.

Likes - Lists, cake, glitter, that glorious moment when all of the referees manage to sync up the jam ending whistles.

Dislikes - Those high heel wedge shoes. They make me shudder. Especially wedge trainers. Seriously, what is the point of those things?

Who’s your derby crush? Grave Dogg. He's an awesome referee and his dry humour lifts the lowest of spirits.

Worst injury? I got a skate to the shin that caused a massive bruise and the whole ankle to swell up. A year later and I still have the bruise.

What has been your most magical derby moment? Line up managing Team Dragon against the Brighton Rockers was incredible. I nearly burst into tears every time our jammer got out the pack. Such footwork. It was beautiful.

Random Skorokoro Fact! I won a medal in the Swaziland national science fair for making my own perfume when I was in primary school.

Photo © John Hesse

Name - ReLisa Kraken aka Lisa Wright

Number - 10 Home league - Ex- London Rollergirls (July 2014) How long have you been playing derby? 3 & a bit years. What is your favourite position to play on track? I love it when we work well together in a pack. And as a jammer, I love clambering through people! Who are you off track? My hubby described me well in his wedding speech – I’m like a poltergeist that you can see. Likes - This is difficult. I like so much! Basically, just let me try to do everything there is to do in the world. Dislikes - Being bored. The robot me says I must fill my time. Who’s your derby crush? This is an obvious one, but Stephanie Mainey is mine. She’s hilarious and she’s the best person to play both with and against because she creates unexpected havoc! Also I love Reaper (666) - his skating skills are to die for. Worst injury? Groin strain. What has been your most magical derby moment? When I was at the Team England tryout there was a knockout round half way through the session – I thought I’d flunked it and was about to be kicked out, then when I got through to the next round I actually cried (I don’t normally cry). Random Kraken Fact! At home I wear slippers that look like bear feet. They have big claws.

Photo © Steve Newton

Photo © Steve Newton