Weekend Highlights: 19 May 2019

This is the Sunday edition of this weekend's highlights, with just a few entries. As always the hardest picks are France and the UK, who tend to have so many high quality events on at once that picking just one is almost impossible.

We're sticking to our limit of 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.

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).

Sun: Maylands, WA, Australia

[FACEBOOK LINK]

WA Roller Derby (WARD) are prepping for the upcoming Royal Rumble by hosting an open scrim against a challenge team drawn from the skaters of West Australia. Spectators welcome by donation.

  • WARDS of the Skate (WARD A) versus WA (pick-up team)

This fixture is not listed on Flat Track Stats as one team is a hybrid, unrateable, team.

Event starts: 1600 Sunday (doors open)

Venue: The Rise, 28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands, WA, Australia

Sun: Durban, South Africa

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Durban Roller Derby hosts a "Learn to Skate" day, which also doubles as an open day for any interested skaters.

Event starts: 1000 Sunday

Venue: Watercrest Mall, 141 Inanda Road, Durban, SA

Sun: Vicenza, Italy

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Manneken Beasts are on a coaching tour (we're a little concerned by their obvious love for late 1990s dance, given they're calling it "The VengaBeast on Tour"), and we're calling out this Italian part of it to represent both parts.

This is an Open To All genders bootcamp at intermediate level, coached by Track Vader (blocking), Trick or Threat (jamming), Goofy (jamming).

All profits from the coaching tour support Manneken Beasts even larger plans for a competitive tour of the USA, which you can also support on GoFundMe.

Event starts: 0915 Sunday (registration)

Venue: Pattindromo Comunale Viale Arturo Ferrarin 67, Vicenza, Italy

Sun: Cologne, Germany

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Cologne Roller Derby host a single header bout against a hybrid team from Bielefeld and Oberhausen.

  • Unbreakabellas (Cologne B) versus hybrid team (Bashing Battlecats (Bielefeld) + Mine Monsters (Oberhausen))

This fixture is not listed on Flat Track Stats as one team is a hybrid, unrateable, team.

Event starts: 1330 Sunday (doors open)

Venue: Sporthalle, Everhardstraße 50, Köln, Germany

Sun: Antwerp, Belgium

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK]

Antwerp Roller Derby hosts a B-teams battle against one of the rising leagues in French derby, Lomme Roller Girls!

  • Pack of Destruction (Antwerp B) versus Glorious Batardes (Lomme B)

Event starts: 1100? Sunday

Venue: Cafetaria Sporthal Kiel, Antwerp, Belgium

Sun: Saint-Gratien, France

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

Roller Derby Panthers host a double header of derby for their A and B teams. (To be honest, there's a lot of great derby in France this Sunday, and we decided which one to pick partly on the team names.)

  • Panthers Graou (RDP A / Saint-Gratien) versus Petites Morts (Bordeaux)
  • Panthers Miaou (RDP B) versus Bloody Angels (Melun)

Event starts: 1400 Sunday (doors open)

Venue: 28 Rue du Picolo, Saint-Gratien, France

Sun: Grimsby, UK

[FACEBOOK LINK] [FTS LINK]

Grimsby Roller Derby host the next fixtures of the British Championships Tier 3 East (WFTDA-side). For the hosts, this is a battle for the the top of the league table, as they play current top-spot-holders Deathrow Hull. In the other bout, Roller Derby Leicester will be hoping to pick up a second win against York Minxters to avoid the bottom of the table and potential relegation.

  • York Minxters versus Roller Derby Leicester
  • Grim Reavers (Grimsby A) versus Deathrow Hull

Event starts: 1145 Sunday (doors open)

Venue: Grimsby Leisure Centre, Cromwell Road, Grimsby, UK

Sun: Oldham, UK

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Rainy City Roller Derby host an All-Stars coached jammer bootcamp, covering everything you'd expect: individual skills, techniques for dealing with walls (evasion or otherwise), and working with offense. This bootcamp is 16+ WFTDA-gender policy, mins-passed only.

Event starts: 1100 Sunday

Venue: The Thunderdome, 51-53 King St 1st Flor, Oldham, UK

Sun: Valencia, Spain

[FACEBOOK LINK]

Rayo Dockers host a "social day" on Women's Sports, including both a round table session with women athletes, and a "dynamic workshop" on LGBTQ and queer theory.

Event starts: 1200 Sunday (doors open)

Venue: Inciativa Dàhlia, camino viejo de Xirivella, 23 bajo, Valencia, Spain