On Saturday 28 April, Nottingham Roller Derby host the annual Louisey Rider Cup tournament, an event that sees skaters from all levels throughout the UK compete in mixed teams, in honour of fallen teammate Louise Wright...
The American-born sport continues to gain traction this side of the pond; the BBC recently streamed the Women’s World Cup final live and, for many years now, there have been a number of established teams in and around the Nottinghamshire area. But what is the draw of this unusual, modern contact sport and why does it continue to attract participants from every walk of life?
Rookie Katie draws comparisons with her experience of P.E. at secondary school: “I was one of the biggest girls in my year at school and I was always picked last,” she tells me. “I have now found a sport that I love and I fit into.”
And this is the thing, in roller derby, there is no one-size-fits-all formula; for the most part it attracts individuals from non-sporting backgrounds and enables them to become athletes. Countless participants who grace the UK’s sports halls today hadn’t skated in their adult life until they enrolled in their team’s beginners programme.
Vicky, who suffers with cystic fibrosis, has been skating with Nottingham Roller Derby for just over a year and has found that the benefits have been life changing. “I’ve struggled over the years to put on weight, get my lungs up to scratch, and to manage my joints and the pain,” she says. “I found roller derby has given me that boost and the strength to keep me as fit as possible."
It's a perfect event that captures her spirit and shows you the roller-derby world that she loved
But it’s not just the open-to-all attitude that makes this sport so appealing, game days are positive, family-friendly spaces where we can introduce the next generation to the world of competitive sport; you might encounter a bit of tongue-in-cheek trash talk and the gameplay is certainly aggressive, however, altercations are few and far between, and discriminatory language from participants or spectators is simply not tolerated.
So what should we anticipate from this month’s Louisey Rider Cup? Over the course of the day, six teams will give it their all on the track with the ultimate aim of lifting the coveted trophy. But it’s not all about the action; expect a tailgate atmosphere with entertainment, market stalls and an immense raffle supported by some of the biggest names in Nottingham.
And what of Louise Wright's legacy? What would the skater herself make of the tournament? Chair Natalie Passingham sums it up perfectly: “Louise loved roller derby and she wanted everyone to be a part of it; if you weren't sure, she would convince you. In the LRC's third year, I am still overwhelmed by how many people want to be a part of and support the day. It's a perfect event that captures her spirit and shows you the roller-derby world that she loved.”
The Louisey Rider Cup takes place at Lee Westwood Centre, NTU Clifton Campus on Saturday 28 April 2018
Louisey Rider Cup Event on Facebook
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