Weekend Highlights: 03 August 2019

This is another "all weekend in one update" set of highlights, although there are several exciting events this weekend: the first fixture of the Chilean national tournament, the Torneo X, in Valdivia; the MRDA Men's European Qualifiers in Aberdeen; and Argentina meet Uruguay in Buenos Aires, for one of Tempestad Roller Derby's first games (plus raising funds for 2x4 to attend in WFTDA Playoffs).

This article was edited on the 1st August to include late announced events in Dubai

The rules are, as usual: highlights limited to 1 event per country, with an "extra" event allowed for a different kind of fixture (so, 1 tournament and 1 bootcamp), or if they involve Scottish leagues (since we are the Scottish Roller Derby Blog). Other notability might also allow the extra event - great posters, notable teams, etc. (League birthdays may count as "special" enough, at our discretion ;) )

In a bid to make this list as useful as possible, we've avoided links to Facebook except where noted. (Links to Teams are to non-Facebook resources - Instagram, or actual team pages - we'd strongly recommend that Teams get themselves an actual webpage [we can help host one if you need help]).

Locations are roughly organised East-West (with things before the weekend out sequence at the start).

Map of all events (coded by type)

Sat: Whakatane, New Zealand

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK 1] [FTS LINK 2] [FTS LINK 3]

Whakatāne Roller Derby League host an exciting New Zealand triple header round robin!

  • Whakatāne Roller Derby League versus Richter City Roller Derby (Wellington)
  • Richter City Roller Derby versus Dunedin Roller Derby
  • Whakatāne Roller Derby League versus Dunedin Roller Derby

Event starts: 1200 Saturday (doors open)

Venue: Whakatāne War Memorial Hall, 7 Short Street, Whakatāne, New Zealand

Sun: Katoomba, NSW, Australia

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Blue Mountains Roller Derby League host an Officials Workshop, a free all-day training clinic for learning referees and NSOs. The day is run as two parallel streams, after an introductory session, with the Refereeing stream going through penalty types and calls, impact assement, and position specific aspects; and the NSO stream dealing with each of the varied NSO stations in turn. The day ends with a scrimmage at which attendees can practice what they've learned.

Event starts: 0900 Sunday

Venue: Katoomba Sports and Aquatic Centre, Catalina Ave, Katoomba, NSW, Australia

Sat: Adelaide, SA, Australia

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Adelaide Roller Derby host their Grand Final of their Home teams series, a double header for 3rd and 1st place for this season.

  • Wild Hearses versus Road Train Rollers (third place game)
  • Mile Die Club versus Salty Dolls (Championship game)

Event starts: 1600 Saturday (doors open)

Venue: Adelaide Showground, Goodwood Rd, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Mon: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

[FACEBOOK LINK 1] [FACEBOOK LINK 2]

UAE Roller Derby All-Stars are having some international coaching fun, as Durban Roller Derby's LuciFear visits to host a bootcamp on the Monday, and then, in collaboration with Chicks and Bowls UAE, spend some time on the ramps on the Tuesday.

  • Monday: Bootcamp (Footwork and contact drills)
  • Tuesday: "Skate Park Adventures"

Event starts: 1900 Monday (bootcamp)

Venue: Aktiv Nation, Al Quoz, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (bootcamp) ; Townsquare Dubai Skate Park (skating)

Sat: Berlin, Germany

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK (Bundesliga D3)]

Bear City Roller Derby and Starlight Excess Roller Derby have joined forces again to host an afternoon of outdoor roller derby! As well as a Bundesliga D3 bout (only the second D3 North bout this season!), Starlight Excess will be playing a mixed team of skaters in the first game.

  • Starlight Excess (Berlin) versus Dickes B (Mixed exhibition team)
  • Breaking Bears (Berlin C) versus Prussian Fat Cats (Potsdam) [Bundesliga D3]

Event starts: 1500 Saturday (first whistle)

Venue: Poststadion, Berlin, Germany

Fri: Cape Town, South Africa

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Cape Town Rollergirls host another of their now regular Short Track Roller Derby bouts, followed by themed Roller Disco (in this case, 007 themed).

  • 6pm Short Track Roller Derby
  • 7pm Roller Disco

Event starts: 1800 Friday (bout starts)

Venue: Sunningdale Sports Complex, Waterville St, Milnerton Rural, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Sun: Paris, France

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Les Gueuses de Pigalle are running an introduction to the history, rules and culture of Roller Derby (including a screening of a bout) as guests of Les Trois 8.

Event starts: 1700 Sunday

Venue: Les Trois 8, 11 rue Victor Letalle, Paris, France

Sat-Sun: Aberdeen, Scotland

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK]

Granite City Brawlers and the MRDA co-host the MRDA Men's European Qualifiers this weekend in Aberdeen. With 5 teams playing for the top spots to make it to the MRDA Championships this year, this will be a round-robin event, with the full 10 games over 2 days.

  • Teams:
    • Kamiquads (Montpellier M)
    • Manneken Beasts (Brussels M)
    • Tyne & Fear Roller Derby (Newcastle M)
    • Granite City Brawlers (Aberdeen O)
    • Glasgow Men's Roller Derby (Glasgow O)

Event starts: 0900 Saturday (doors open)

Venue: Beach Leisure Centre, Esplanade, Sea Beach, Aberdeen, Scotland

Tues: Edinburgh, Scotland

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Kat Malin-August's NSO Workshops series continues in Edinburgh with the 6th edition, covering Jam Timing. As the event page notes, this is a position which can be intimidating for NSOs, so there will be time taken to break things down, and some live practice in the car park!

Event starts: 1900 Tuesday (6th)

Venue: Argyle House, 38 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland

Sat: Manchester, UK

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK 1] [FTS LINK 2]

Manchester Roller Derby host the Grand Final of this year's Boudicca Cup! This double header sees both the 3rd Place and Championship games in close succession.

  • Furies (Manchester B) versus North Wales Roller Derby B (Third Place)
  • Yellow Shovemarines (Liverpool B) versus Bomb Squad (Birmingham B) (Championship game)

Event starts: 1130 Saturday

Venue: University of Salford Sports Centre, University Road, Salford, UK

Sat: Buenos Aires, Argentina

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK]

2x4 Roller Derby host an international double header, and some preparation for their A team travelling to WFTDA Playoffs! Team C take on Montevideo, Uruguay's second league, Tempestad Roller Derby! And then Team Osom play a mixed subscription team, with all subscription fees going to support the high cost of travel to the USA for Playoffs!

  • Team C (Buenos Aires A) versus Tempestad Roller Derby (Montevideo)
  • Team Osom (Buenos Aires B) versus Mixed A/B/C Level team

Only the first bout is listed in FTS, as the second is not rateable.

Event starts: 1500 Saturday

Venue: Avenida Curapaligüe 1100, 1406 Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Sun: Lanùs, Argentina

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Atomic Bombs Roller Derby host a double header of Argentine roller derby with mixed teams on Sunday. As seems to be very popular in Argentine roller derby, there will also be a big advertised raffle for fundraising.

  • "Female mixed" teams game (we're not clear if this is WFTDA-gender policy or not, hence the quotes)
  • Open To All genders mixed teams game

Event starts: 1400 Sunday

Venue: Club Podestá, Velez Sarsfield 1370, Lanús, Argentina

Sat: Quito, Ecuador

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Forajidas Roller Derby host the final of three open days and recruitments to help build Roller Derby in Ecuador!

Event starts: 0900 Saturday

Venue: Cumandá Parque Urbano, Avenue 24 de Mayo, Quito, Ecuador

Sat-Sun: Valdivia, Chile

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK]

Roller Derby Valdivia host the first fixtures of the Torneo X Roller Derby, Chile's National Roller Derby tournament, this year. With those games on the Sunday, there's a special bout on the Saturday, as Team Chile Roller Derby take on The World. (We wrote a little about this tournament here)

  • Saturday:
    • Team Chile versus The World (mixed sub team)
  • Sunday:
    • Bayonetas (Santiago B) versus Deskarriadas (Osorno)
    • Indómitas (Valdivia) versus Tacones Bandidos (Viña del Mar)

Event starts: Escuela Angachilla, Av. René Schneider 3770, Valdivia, Chile

Venue: 1600 Saturday, and 1000 Sunday

Sat: Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK]

Ovejas Negras host a single header against the Nymerias of Queretaro!

  • Ovejas Negras (Morelia) versus Nymerias (Queretaro)

Event starts: 1600 Saturday

Venue: Mercado La Colina. Morelia, Mexico