53 in 53 in 2014 – updated December 1, 2014

Round round get around I get around

Derby, the final frontier. Welcome to 2014 as we try boldly one more time for 52 in 52.

Keep checking my Flickr site at Midnight Matinee for the latest Derby photos and more!

As a brief intro: we are based in the city of Toronto, Ontario which happens to be in Canada. This particular province has more than 50 leagues and have the considerable pleasure of being able to consider many of the leagues as friends and have the privilege of shooting in their rinks or arenas. We endeavour to hit the road in all directions, and many times that includes south of the border. Last year for the first time we hit the WFTDA D1 and D2 playoffs and culminating in the WFTDA Championships themselves in Madison, Wisconsin.

Latest update as of October 14, 2014: Survived Team Ontario Bootcamp in Kingston, Ontario. Five classes of top notch players and coaches providing the drills, then a black and white scrimmage with Team Ontario dispersed with the attendees. Lots of learning and thinking.  

Latest update as of October 8, 2014: We’re back home again after our second WFTDA D1 playoffs of the year at Salt Lake City, Utah. Not quite safe and not quite sound. We endure. Next stop: somewhere in Kingston for the Team Ontario Bootcamp and Team Ontario vs. Team Ontario scrimmage.

R M R G Rocky Mountain Roller Girls at WFTDA D1 Salt Lake City, UTAH The home of Wasatch

Latest update as of August 12, 2014: Hello again! The road experience intensifies as we enjoyed a most memorable night amongst Detroit Derby Girls at their end of year Rollies Awards commemorating 9 years of existence. Way to go DDG! The overnight bus back to Toronto and then up to Elora, Ontario to witness the Fergus Feims engage the Border City Brawlers from Windsor, Ontario in a tough and tightly competitive bout falling 153-157 at the last jam.  Next up: Ohio.

The end of the longest weekend in Fergus

New Skids on the Block @ Quad City Chaos 2014

This derby nomad looks forward to visiting familiar and new friends and facing new adventures in newer territories. There might be an occasional break in the schedule to give the camera and lights a respite. However, we are still endeavouring to shoot derby every week if possible, so if you want to keep the streak going and have Derby happening in your league and if we can get there, feel free to drop me a line!

Team Ontario at The Bunker on February 8, 2014

 

1. Thursday, December 4 – Sunday December 7, 2014 – Blood and Thunder World Cup – Dallas, Texas
2. Saturday, November 15, 2014 – The ORG and TMRD vs. The World – Toronto Outrage vs. The World [co-ed] / Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Royal City Rollergirls The Brute-Leggers – Orangeville Agricultural Centre – Orangeville, Ontario
3. Saturday, November 8, 2014 – Hoser Closer 2 – [Alliston Jr. Roller Derby] Blister Sisters vs. [Niagara Junior Roller Derby] Midway Mayhem /Bombshell Battalion vs. South Simcoe – Alliston Memorial Arena – Alliston, Ontario
4. Friday, OCT. 31 – Sunday, NOV. 2: WFTDA Championships – NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA
5. Saturday, October 25, 2014 – NATIONAL GUARD Feat: Team Canada, Team Ontario, Misfit Militia, Bay Street Bruisers – Alliston, ONTARIO
6. Friday, October 24, 2014 – Camp Pivotstar Junior Eastern Jamboroee – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
7. Saturday, October 18, 2014 – BLOCKTOBERFEST – Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Kingston Rogue Warriors – Orangeville Agricultural Centre – Orangeville, ONTARIO
8. Saturday, October 11, 2014 – Team Ontario Bootcamp – Kingston, ONTARIO
9. Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2014 – WFTDA 2014 Division 1 Playoffs – Salt Lake City, UT
10. Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September 21, 2014 – WFTDA 2014 Division 1 Playoffs – Evansville, IN
11. Sunday, September 14, 2014 – Death Track Dolls vs. Total Vicious Tramps #2 / Smoke City Betties vs. Total Vicious Tramps #1 – Moses Springer Arena, Kitchener, ONTARIO
12. Saturday, September 13, 2014 – D-VAS vs. Capital City Dollinquents / Bay Street Bruisers vs. Muddy River – The Bunker, Parc Downwview Park, ONTARIO
13. Saturday, September 6, 2014 – Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Durham Motor City Madames – Orangeville, ONTARIO
14. Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24, 2014 – WFTDA 2014 Division 2 Playoffs – Waterloo Memorial Arena, Kitchener-Waterloo, ONTARIO
15. Saturday, August 16, 2014 – Cincinnati Rollergirls vs. Ohio Roller Girls – Ohio Expo Centre – Columbus, OHIO
16. Saturday, August 9, 2014 – Fergus Feims [Home 153] vs. Border City Brawlers [Away 157] – Elora, ONTARIO
17. Friday, August 8, 2014 – Detroit Derby Girls Rollie Awards – Detroit, MI
18. Saturday, July 26, 2014 – 4th Annual Gibson’s  Cup – Atom Smashers vs. Motor City Madames / Juniors Scrimmage Black vs. White [Alliston Junior Roller

    Derby and Toronto Junior Roller Derby] – Ajax Memorial Arena – Ajax,ONTARIO

    

    4th Annual Gibson’s Cup – July 26, 2014

19. Saturday, July 19, 2014 – S*M*A*S*H – triple header – Fergus Feims [Fergus Roller Derby] vs. Luscious Lunch Ladies [Forest City Derby Girls] / Misfit Militia [Misfit Militia Roller Derby] vs. Timber Rollers [Forest City Derby Girls] / Crow City [Crow City Roller Girls] vs. Grey Bruce Highland Dames – Alliston Memorial Arena – Alliston, ONTARIO
20. Saturday, July 12, 2014 – Hammer City Harlots vs. Ithaca BlueStockings / HCRG Eh! vs. Ithaca SufferJets – Dave Andreychuk Arena – Hamilton, ONTARIO
21. Saturday, July 5, 2014 – JRDA North & Northeast Tournament – The Bunker, Parc Downwview Park, ONTARIO
22. Saturday, June 28, 2014 – Burning River vs. Lake Effect Furies / Ithaca League of Junior Derby vs. Queen City Junior Roller Girls – Rainbow Rink, North Tonawanda, NY
23. Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22,2014-ECDX2014-Feasterville,PAzzzzzzz
    

    The orange of Tiger Baby Brawlers at ECDX 2014

24. Saturday, June 7, 2014 – Queen City Roller Girls Championships – Rainbow Rink, North Tonawanda, NY
25. Saturday, May 31, 2014 – Crow City Roller Girls vs.TheDecapulettes – Stratford Allen Arena, Stratford, ONTARIO
    

    The Decapulettes vs. Crow City Roller Girls * last jam over

26. Saturday, May 24, 2014 – Tri-City Roller Derby doubleheader – Total Knock-Outs vs. Vicious Dishes / Kingston Disloyalists vs. Venus Fly Tramps – Waterloo Rec Centre, Waterloo,ONTARIO
    

    Lippy Wrongstocking – Vicious Dishes how do derby players recognize photos of themselves?

27. Sunday, May 18, 2014 – TMRD vs. Betties/Misfits/Orangeville – The Bunker – Downsview Park, ONTARIO
28. Saturday, May 17, 2014 – School of Hard Blocks – Area 705 Smooth Operators vs. Grey Bruce Highland Dames / Atom Smashers vs. Capital City Dollinquents – Douro Community Centre – Douro, Ontario
29. Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Mother of All Bouts – Rogue Warriors vs. Skateful Dead / Kingston Disloyalists vs. Les Duchesses – Kingston, Ontario
30. Saturday, May 3, 2014 – Brides vs. Grooms Coed Scrimmage – Mount Forest, ONTARIO
31. Saturday, May 3, 2014 – D-VAS vs. Fergus Feims – Centre Wellingston Sportsplex – Fergus, ONTARIO
32. Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, April 27, 2014 – Beast of the East, Arena St-Louis, Montréal, PQ
33. Friday, April 25, 2014 – CN Power vs. Montreal New Skids on the Block – Arena St-Louis, Montréal, PQ
34. Saturday, April 19, 2014 – Border City Brawlers vs. Fergus Feims / Canadian Clubbers vs. Orangeville Pulp Affliction – Windsor, ONTARIO
35. Sunday, April 13, 2014 – Toronto Roller Derby Fresh Meat – The Bunker, Downsview Park, ONTARIO
36. Saturday, April 12, 2014 – Tri-City Roller Derby Home Opener – Brandywine Belligerents vs. Tri-City Thunder / Brandywine Brawlers vs. Plan B – New Hamburg, ONTARIO
37. Sunday, March 30, 2014 – Freaks vs. Geeks Spring Scrimmage – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, ONTARIO
38. Saturday, March 29, 2014 – Timber Rollers vs. G-stars, Los Coños vs. Thames Fatales – Western Fair Agriplex – London, ONTARIO
39. Saturday, March 22 – Sunday March 23,2014-QuadCityChaos-TheBunker-ParcDownsview Park,ONTARIO
    

    Quad City Chaos 2010 at The Hangar

40. Sunday, March 16, 2014 – CN Power vs.Killamazoo DerbyDarlins-TheBunker-ParcDownsview Park,ONTARIO
    

    CN Power vs. Killamazoo Derby Darlins at The Bunker
    March 16, 2014

41. Saturday, March 15, 2014 – Derby Debutantes vs. Orangeville Pulp Affliction – Orangeville, ONTARIO
42. Sunday, March 9, 2014 – CN Power vs. Tri-City Roller Girls – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
43. Sunday, March 9, 2014 – Toronto Men’s Roller Derby – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
44. Saturday, March 1, 2014 – Chicks Ahoy vs. Smoke City Betties / Death Track Dolls vs. Gore Gore Rollergirls – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
45. Sunday, February 25, 2014 – Toronto Men’s Roller Derby Toronto Outrage vs. Queen City Roller Girls Nickel City Knockouts – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
46. Saturday, February 24, 2014 – Beat the Winter Blues! Scrimmage and Training – Toronto Roller Derby – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
47. Sunday, February 16, 2014 – Bloody Valentine Co-ed Scrimmage – Orangeville, Ontario
48. Saturday, February 8, 2014 – CN Power vs. Team Ontario – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
49. Sunday, February 2, 2014 – NCKO practice / Suicidal Saucies practice / Alley Kats practice – Rainbow Rink, Queen City / Buffalo, NY
50. Saturday, February 1, 2014 – Alley Kats vs. Suicidal Saucies / Enchanted Mountain vs. Queen City Junior Roller Girls – Rainbow Rink, Queen City / North Tonawanda, NY
51. Saturday, January 25, 2014 – Alliston Blister Sisters vs. Torontosaurus Wrex / Chicks Ahoy! vs. Gore-Gore Rollergirls – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
52. Saturday, January 18, 2014 – Devil’s Night Dames vs. Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI
53. Saturday, January 11, 2014 – Devil Dollies vs. Nickel City Knockouts – Rainbow Rink, Queen City Rollergirls / North Tonawanda, NY

---

Thank you to Pack It Up! for their lovely words and recognition. Click here.

photo credit: Meg Mckenna

Thanks Derby!

53 in 53 in 2014 – updated December 1, 2014

Round round get around I get around

Derby, the final frontier. Welcome to 2014 as we try boldly one more time for 52 in 52.

Keep checking my Flickr site at Midnight Matinee for the latest Derby photos and more!

As a brief intro: we are based in the city of Toronto, Ontario which happens to be in Canada. This particular province has more than 50 leagues and have the considerable pleasure of being able to consider many of the leagues as friends and have the privilege of shooting in their rinks or arenas. We endeavour to hit the road in all directions, and many times that includes south of the border. Last year for the first time we hit the WFTDA D1 and D2 playoffs and culminating in the WFTDA Championships themselves in Madison, Wisconsin.

Latest update as of October 14, 2014: Survived Team Ontario Bootcamp in Kingston, Ontario. Five classes of top notch players and coaches providing the drills, then a black and white scrimmage with Team Ontario dispersed with the attendees. Lots of learning and thinking.  

Latest update as of October 8, 2014: We’re back home again after our second WFTDA D1 playoffs of the year at Salt Lake City, Utah. Not quite safe and not quite sound. We endure. Next stop: somewhere in Kingston for the Team Ontario Bootcamp and Team Ontario vs. Team Ontario scrimmage.

R M R G Rocky Mountain Roller Girls at WFTDA D1 Salt Lake City, UTAH The home of Wasatch

Latest update as of August 12, 2014: Hello again! The road experience intensifies as we enjoyed a most memorable night amongst Detroit Derby Girls at their end of year Rollies Awards commemorating 9 years of existence. Way to go DDG! The overnight bus back to Toronto and then up to Elora, Ontario to witness the Fergus Feims engage the Border City Brawlers from Windsor, Ontario in a tough and tightly competitive bout falling 153-157 at the last jam.  Next up: Ohio.

The end of the longest weekend in Fergus

New Skids on the Block @ Quad City Chaos 2014

This derby nomad looks forward to visiting familiar and new friends and facing new adventures in newer territories. There might be an occasional break in the schedule to give the camera and lights a respite. However, we are still endeavouring to shoot derby every week if possible, so if you want to keep the streak going and have Derby happening in your league and if we can get there, feel free to drop me a line!

Team Ontario at The Bunker on February 8, 2014

 

1. Thursday, December 4 – Sunday December 7, 2014 – Blood and Thunder World Cup – Dallas, Texas
2. Saturday, November 15, 2014 – The ORG and TMRD vs. The World – Toronto Outrage vs. The World [co-ed] / Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Royal City Rollergirls The Brute-Leggers – Orangeville Agricultural Centre – Orangeville, Ontario
3. Saturday, November 8, 2014 – Hoser Closer 2 – [Alliston Jr. Roller Derby] Blister Sisters vs. [Niagara Junior Roller Derby] Midway Mayhem /Bombshell Battalion vs. South Simcoe – Alliston Memorial Arena – Alliston, Ontario
4. Friday, OCT. 31 – Sunday, NOV. 2: WFTDA Championships – NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA
5. Saturday, October 25, 2014 – NATIONAL GUARD Feat: Team Canada, Team Ontario, Misfit Militia, Bay Street Bruisers – Alliston, ONTARIO
6. Friday, October 24, 2014 – Camp Pivotstar Junior Eastern Jamboroee – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
7. Saturday, October 18, 2014 – BLOCKTOBERFEST – Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Kingston Rogue Warriors – Orangeville Agricultural Centre – Orangeville, ONTARIO
8. Saturday, October 11, 2014 – Team Ontario Bootcamp – Kingston, ONTARIO
9. Friday, September 26 to Sunday, September 28, 2014 – WFTDA 2014 Division 1 Playoffs – Salt Lake City, UT
10. Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September 21, 2014 – WFTDA 2014 Division 1 Playoffs – Evansville, IN
11. Sunday, September 14, 2014 – Death Track Dolls vs. Total Vicious Tramps #2 / Smoke City Betties vs. Total Vicious Tramps #1 – Moses Springer Arena, Kitchener, ONTARIO
12. Saturday, September 13, 2014 – D-VAS vs. Capital City Dollinquents / Bay Street Bruisers vs. Muddy River – The Bunker, Parc Downwview Park, ONTARIO
13. Saturday, September 6, 2014 – Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Durham Motor City Madames – Orangeville, ONTARIO
14. Friday, August 22 to Sunday, August 24, 2014 – WFTDA 2014 Division 2 Playoffs – Waterloo Memorial Arena, Kitchener-Waterloo, ONTARIO
15. Saturday, August 16, 2014 – Cincinnati Rollergirls vs. Ohio Roller Girls – Ohio Expo Centre – Columbus, OHIO
16. Saturday, August 9, 2014 – Fergus Feims [Home 153] vs. Border City Brawlers [Away 157] – Elora, ONTARIO
17. Friday, August 8, 2014 – Detroit Derby Girls Rollie Awards – Detroit, MI
18. Saturday, July 26, 2014 – 4th Annual Gibson’s  Cup – Atom Smashers vs. Motor City Madames / Juniors Scrimmage Black vs. White [Alliston Junior Roller
    Derby and Toronto Junior Roller Derby] – Ajax Memorial Arena – Ajax,ONTARIO

    

    4th Annual Gibson’s Cup – July 26, 2014

19. Saturday, July 19, 2014 – S*M*A*S*H – triple header – Fergus Feims [Fergus Roller Derby] vs. Luscious Lunch Ladies [Forest City Derby Girls] / Misfit Militia [Misfit Militia Roller Derby] vs. Timber Rollers [Forest City Derby Girls] / Crow City [Crow City Roller Girls] vs. Grey Bruce Highland Dames – Alliston Memorial Arena – Alliston, ONTARIO
20. Saturday, July 12, 2014 – Hammer City Harlots vs. Ithaca BlueStockings / HCRG Eh! vs. Ithaca SufferJets – Dave Andreychuk Arena – Hamilton, ONTARIO
21. Saturday, July 5, 2014 – JRDA North & Northeast Tournament – The Bunker, Parc Downwview Park, ONTARIO
22. Saturday, June 28, 2014 – Burning River vs. Lake Effect Furies / Ithaca League of Junior Derby vs. Queen City Junior Roller Girls – Rainbow Rink, North Tonawanda, NY
23. Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22,2014-ECDX2014-Feasterville,PAzzzzzzz

    

    The orange of Tiger Baby Brawlers at ECDX 2014

24. Saturday, June 7, 2014 – Queen City Roller Girls Championships – Rainbow Rink, North Tonawanda, NY
25. Saturday, May 31, 2014 – Crow City Roller Girls vs.TheDecapulettes – Stratford Allen Arena, Stratford, ONTARIO

    

    The Decapulettes vs. Crow City Roller Girls * last jam over

26. Saturday, May 24, 2014 – Tri-City Roller Derby doubleheader – Total Knock-Outs vs. Vicious Dishes / Kingston Disloyalists vs. Venus Fly Tramps – Waterloo Rec Centre, Waterloo,ONTARIO

    

    Lippy Wrongstocking – Vicious Dishes how do derby players recognize photos of themselves?

27. Sunday, May 18, 2014 – TMRD vs. Betties/Misfits/Orangeville – The Bunker – Downsview Park, ONTARIO
28. Saturday, May 17, 2014 – School of Hard Blocks – Area 705 Smooth Operators vs. Grey Bruce Highland Dames / Atom Smashers vs. Capital City Dollinquents – Douro Community Centre – Douro, Ontario
29. Saturday, May 10, 2014 – Mother of All Bouts – Rogue Warriors vs. Skateful Dead / Kingston Disloyalists vs. Les Duchesses – Kingston, Ontario
30. Saturday, May 3, 2014 – Brides vs. Grooms Coed Scrimmage – Mount Forest, ONTARIO
31. Saturday, May 3, 2014 – D-VAS vs. Fergus Feims – Centre Wellingston Sportsplex – Fergus, ONTARIO
32. Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, April 27, 2014 – Beast of the East, Arena St-Louis, Montréal, PQ
33. Friday, April 25, 2014 – CN Power vs. Montreal New Skids on the Block – Arena St-Louis, Montréal, PQ
34. Saturday, April 19, 2014 – Border City Brawlers vs. Fergus Feims / Canadian Clubbers vs. Orangeville Pulp Affliction – Windsor, ONTARIO
35. Sunday, April 13, 2014 – Toronto Roller Derby Fresh Meat – The Bunker, Downsview Park, ONTARIO
36. Saturday, April 12, 2014 – Tri-City Roller Derby Home Opener – Brandywine Belligerents vs. Tri-City Thunder / Brandywine Brawlers vs. Plan B – New Hamburg, ONTARIO
37. Sunday, March 30, 2014 – Freaks vs. Geeks Spring Scrimmage – New Hamburg Arena – New Hamburg, ONTARIO
38. Saturday, March 29, 2014 – Timber Rollers vs. G-stars, Los Coños vs. Thames Fatales – Western Fair Agriplex – London, ONTARIO
39. Saturday, March 22 – Sunday March 23,2014-QuadCityChaos-TheBunker-ParcDownsview Park,ONTARIO

    

    Quad City Chaos 2010 at The Hangar

40. Sunday, March 16, 2014 – CN Power vs.Killamazoo DerbyDarlins-TheBunker-ParcDownsview Park,ONTARIO

    

    CN Power vs. Killamazoo Derby Darlins at The Bunker
    March 16, 2014

41. Saturday, March 15, 2014 – Derby Debutantes vs. Orangeville Pulp Affliction – Orangeville, ONTARIO
42. Sunday, March 9, 2014 – CN Power vs. Tri-City Roller Girls – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
43. Sunday, March 9, 2014 – Toronto Men’s Roller Derby – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
44. Saturday, March 1, 2014 – Chicks Ahoy vs. Smoke City Betties / Death Track Dolls vs. Gore Gore Rollergirls – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
45. Sunday, February 25, 2014 – Toronto Men’s Roller Derby Toronto Outrage vs. Queen City Roller Girls Nickel City Knockouts – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
46. Saturday, February 24, 2014 – Beat the Winter Blues! Scrimmage and Training – Toronto Roller Derby – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
47. Sunday, February 16, 2014 – Bloody Valentine Co-ed Scrimmage – Orangeville, Ontario
48. Saturday, February 8, 2014 – CN Power vs. Team Ontario – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
49. Sunday, February 2, 2014 – NCKO practice / Suicidal Saucies practice / Alley Kats practice – Rainbow Rink, Queen City / Buffalo, NY
50. Saturday, February 1, 2014 – Alley Kats vs. Suicidal Saucies / Enchanted Mountain vs. Queen City Junior Roller Girls – Rainbow Rink, Queen City / North Tonawanda, NY
51. Saturday, January 25, 2014 – Alliston Blister Sisters vs. Torontosaurus Wrex / Chicks Ahoy! vs. Gore-Gore Rollergirls – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
52. Saturday, January 18, 2014 – Devil’s Night Dames vs. Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI
53. Saturday, January 11, 2014 – Devil Dollies vs. Nickel City Knockouts – Rainbow Rink, Queen City Rollergirls / North Tonawanda, NY

---

Thank you to Pack It Up! for their lovely words and recognition. Click here.
photo credit: Meg Mckenna

Thanks Derby!

DSC_1661_20130908_160220 – from D1 Fort Wayne

DSC_1661_20130908_160220, originally uploaded by Midnight Matinee 24.

quel weekend! in Fort Wayne INdiana!

all content copyright © midnight matinee

DSC_8140_20130817_191919 – Montreal and Toronto have smashing time on a hot Saturday night

DSC_8140_20130817_191919, originally uploaded by Midnight Matinee 24.

Montreal comes to town with their B team the Montreal Sexpos and the Smash Squad to face off against Toronto Roller Derby’s – the best B beam in Canada – the Bay Street Bruisers, and the D-VAS. The Smash Squad eked out a two point victory for the win for Montreal, while the Sexpos fell against the Bruisers.It is always exciting to see any team from Montreal on the road.

all content copyright © midnight matinee

Forest City takes two – Ladies lunch on Royal City – Thames and Filles du Roi in grudge match

Jen “Sure Shot” Wilson, the first photographer to witness GTAR coming out of the Derby ooze, captured the doubleheader at Forest City using her trusted Spotmatic film camera. When she’s not shooting Derby her works can be found at www.jenr8.

This story contains the notes and photos of Jen Wilson, along with contributions from Dr. Johnny Capote.

The story of the day would be the heated rematch between the Thames Fatales and Les Filles du Roi, the victors at Beast of the East 2010. During that tournament the Fatales had fallen to FDR by 91 to 12.

Whenever Montreal has been on the road this year, it’s always a question as to who would be on the track this time? The match at Tri-City had featured a short-benched Contrabanditas with substitutes from the other MTLRD teams, as had the match between CN Power and the Sexpos. So in the bout at Forest city, who would Les Filles du Roi  feature on the roster? While the programme stated the following: “That’s What She Said / Asil-X / Raffy Duck / Krakatoa / Beth Rave / Magnum P.E.I. / Waxey McBush / Al Strapone / Phunky Bladz / Dame of Doom”, all in all there three imports played for Les Filles du Roi that night: Rouge, Nameless Whorror, and Krakatoa.

No matter the line-up, Les Filles de Roi always play it tough, and it is never a good idea to cross them. Especially with Nameless Whorror in their line-up for the day.

Although Montreal has been going through a small string of losses on the road, says Dr. Johnny Capote on Montreal: “They just have been sending patched-up rosters lately, not by choice. And the house teams have been off since August 6th” after the Montreal Roller Derby league’s Championship game ended with Les Contrabanditas fending off Filles du Roi 99-80 in a Ditas jammer penalty filled second half that nearly doomed their chances of winning.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Jen Wilson noted: “The second game was a grudge match between London’s Thames Fatales and Quebec’s Les Filles Du Roi. The crowd needed to be coaxed to roar as the evening took on a slightly more serious vibe. Mirambo keep the energy going as Killson as jammer raced circles around everyone. Slacker Smacker was also jamming a lot but looked like she was taking a beating on her right hip. Les Filles fought hard but was always a bit behind. Magnum P.E.I. was huge and it looked like she would be an impenetrable blocker. However, she was a bit slow and the Thames pack would target her early and hold her at bay. Krakatoa and That’s What She Said did some excellent jamming for Les Filles du Roi, but London was just too strong and they won the game. They were fast and it was a hard brutal physical battle with the emergency crew coming onto the rink at least once, but thankfully no one was seriously injured. It was a great night for the Forest City Roller Derby and Thames got their measure of revenge.

—–

“The night started with an awesome match between the London Luscious Lunch Ladies and the Royal City Rollergirls All-Stars from Guelph. It was an intense game. London had a good lead into half-time with Mighty Thor and Box Kick Betty doing a lot of the jamming against Guelph’s Hot Cross Guns and the Archbitch of Slamterbury. In the second half Guelph came back strong with The Hellcat of Panar jamming quick and slick through a lot of trouble. When trouble found her in the form of the London blockers though, she would fly. London put up a good fight but Guelph quickly caught up to them. They were a mere 3 points behind with seconds left on the clock!

“During the last jam the Lunch Ladies jammer on lead was in the penalty box when the Royal City jammer got caught up in the blockers, and just then the LL jammer came out of the penalty box and burst through the blockers and then stopped the jam. The crowd went wild! It was amazing!” The final score was 138-135. So close!!”

It should be safe to say that the night’s loss is not a reflection on the future of Montreal Roller Derby. “It’s more about who’s left to play travel games,” says Dr. Johnny Capote.  Speaking about the future and upon the Royal City Rollergirls, he says: “They are only missing a piece or two that only time develops. I saw them at CWRDA East, and really liked what I saw.”

-30-

all photos courtesy of Jen Wilson at www.jenr8.com/

Jen Wilson’s background in Derby: “I took photos of Toronto’s Derby Debutantes when they first started practicing, but I have never been to a real game until this October 1st game here in London. I really didn’t know what to expect. I took a place on the floor in the “suicide seats” area. That was cool. I also placed myself by the corner and figured I wouldn’t move around, just catch whatever action I could from there. I figured that if I moved around too much I would miss something on the other side of the rink, and I didn’t have a zoom. I was also worried about the film so I brought 400 and 200 speed, 200 being the best. I set the aperture (2.4) and speed (125) and then waited for the fun.

“Roller derby action seemed easier to capture than break dancing, which was hard to imagine because the skaters are pretty fast around that rink, but I think it was easier to anticipate when action was going to happen because I was watching the game unfold and I could see the jammers coming up to the blockers. When the players all get together you can tell there’s gonna be business.”

“I love the unpredictability of it. And I also love being a part of the game as a spectator and feeling the energy of it. That translates to the photos if I’m enjoying the game and not really worried about what I want the pictures to look like. I am there more to enjoy the game and enjoy taking pictures of the game. That’s what gives me the photos that I like.”

all photos courtesy of Jen Wilson

Lippy! and the New Ditas

A strange melange of Les Contrabanditas took to the track in New Hamburg on a Saturday night to take on the flying Vicious Dishes of Tri-City.

DSC_5205 originally uploaded by Midnight Matinee 24.

—
noted along with Dr. Johnny Capote:

The Tri-City Rollergirls were just about ready to wrap up their regular home season throwing in their newest and “black and bluest” Total Knock-Outs against the D-VAS from Toronto Roller Derby to start off the evening. Then the second half of the double-header featured Les Contrabanditas from Montreal Roller Derby [MTLRD] against the Vicious Dishes.

It was a strange time to be on Les Contrabanditas. Players who did not normally wear the red and black awoke and made the trip to Tri-City. The roster at Tri-City was not what Dr. Johnny Capote saw in Montreal this summer.

Our own trips up to Tri-City this year up to the Waterloo Rec Centre always came with some manner of ride to the arena by very generous people within the league or someone officiating [thanks Suzy Slam, Christa Jane, T-Ref], and this time we were met by Lippy Wrongstockings herself and the husband sometimes known as Big Bag who adorned with kilt leads in the charges of the Thunder or Dishes or Venus Fly Tramps with his bagpipes. On the way there was a bit of chat harkening back to the last venture to New Hamburg itself to see CN Power and the Thunder. Then the famous encounter of the Thunder against the Montreal Sexpos last August who brought along names such as Georgia W. Tush, Trash ‘n Smash, Nameless Whorror into their lineup. Wonder what became of them since then? So almost as a jest, it was asked who would possibly be in the Contrabanditas roster for the night? And we found out.

This was not the Skiditas. Even Sparkle ‘n Maim from La Racaille switched sides for a day. Rookie Ti Loup who had just been jamming with the Sexpos at ToRD against CN Power and down at the Big 5 Eastern championships with the New Skids on the Block as their third jammer … Greta Bobo from La Racaille … Bikini Skills [co-captain of Sexpos, triple threat with Ditas], blocker Dame of Doom, Charlotte Bruise-A-Lot co-captain, Ninja Simone [co-captain, blocker and pivot with Ditas and blocker with Sexpos], Ti-Loup, Roch Dee Taunt blocker … add in Bean Stalker, Naughty Bee Oh!Henry from the Hammer and this was definitely not Ricky Balboa’s usual line-up of Les Contrabanditas. Regardless the Ditas team came to play.

The Vicious Dishes came out with their precision style of speed and blocking and jumped to a very quick lead. Boss Applesauce had her Dishes ready. Motorhead Molly, Skate Pastor, Lippy Wrongstockings, the ceaseless jammer rotation for the Dishes going against the likes of Ti-Loup, Naughty Bee, Greta Bobo. It truly was one of the fastest games seen this summer. And for the first time, Matt S Faction granted photographer access to the centre of the track itself. If the game seemed fast from the outside, trying to track the players from the middle was a thrilling challenge. Not only were Lippy Wrongstockings and Ti Loup and Motorhead Molly and company keeping up a blazing pace, the inner track referees following and calling were another impediment to the view, or they could be embraced and become part of the action itself. The centre is a world of its own with all the bodies on the inside, referees, NSOs, penalty wranglers, line and stats trackers, the referees. The roar of skates is something the crowd doesn’t hear from the stands, and the four blasts of the whistle calling off the jam is indeed earsplitting.

The score stood at 85-10 which looked bleak, but based on the comeback, the Contrabanditas coach Ricky Balboa got everybody in line. The new and current Ditas began to blend and stepped up the pace.

“It doesn’t matter what team you give to Balboa, he won’t accept lack of effort from his players, this I know,” says Dr. Johnny Capote.

There were maybe a couple of unconventional jammers for the Dishes on the night, with sin-e-star wearing the star once. Then Stacie Jones was put in as last jammer for the night with Motorhead Molly as a blocker, but the Contrabanditas were not giving up with Ti Loup running up a final 14-4 jam.

The final score of 117-80 was an indication of the Ditas ability to claw back and what could have been.

One of the TKOs comments: “I’d like to say that Tri-City had home turf advantage, but the truth is that the Ditas were a brand new team almost, and there were players fielded from Hammer City to fill the roster. It probably wasn’t the best situation that the Ditas could be in, but they pulled it together pretty quickly for what they had to do to play the game. P’tit Loup was still on fire – it was nuts to see her play another away game right after returning from Easterns!”

As the track was being dismantled, and the scoreboards wiped clean and display tables carted away,  more Derby goodness was on the offering with not just one but two offers of rides back to Toronto, and indeed, two is better than none. Bidding farewell to the players and volunteers who were fueling up on the after-bout repast that Tri City always seems to provide [and being given access to a slice of pizza], they like most leagues everywhere do treat everybody right. Everyone is always willing to field a question or two about Derby, there were multi-discussions with players and coaches about strategies and plays such as the crowded jammer line at the Westerns. So on the ride home, it was comfortable to talk about what people saw on the track, learn more about the draft and the future of the D-VAS in Toronto Roller Derby and tactics once again.

All in all there are good people in Derby everywhere, on and off the track, all promoting the world of Derby, and we feel privileged to know them. And we don’t take any of this for granted.

Soon to come: more catching up with the stories of being on the road this summer in the pursuit of Derby.

all content copyright © midnight matinee

Just another Derby Weekend

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now

/… more to come

La Racaille and Debutantes collide at Social Class Clash

DSC_7265, originally uploaded by Midnight Matinee 24.

Bone Machine urging La Racaille on in the clash with Derby Debutantes

This story is still in the creation stage …

It was another clash of the classes as the rabble rousing La Racaille ventured down the road from Montreal for the first time to bout with the Debutantes of GTAR for supremacy at Social Class Clash. The bout held at the Ted Reeve Arena Bubble on the weekend of the 16th of April was a bone chilling [literally] affair filled with the promise and threat of speed on both sides.

 

Team Introductions

It may have been with no small measure of relief for the Debutantes that Bone Machine was back with her old team for the night—Canada’s #3 house team La Racaille—only as bench coach. It could have been quite the roster too if former Racaille Iron Wench, No Holds Barrd,  Lyndah Kicks [and Bone Machine] were not now all permanently rostered with New Skids on the Block. But La Racaille still held the likes of Sexpos’ K-Dawg, Sparkle ‘n Maim, Squarrior and their new bloods were not without their own imminent menace on the roster of ten for the night.

However, for the Derby Debutantes [ranked #21 house team on rollergirl.ca], it had been a long winter scrimmaging and beating the hell out of each other and Chrome Mollys. Memories of their last exhibition match [with a mixed roster of RVRG and GTAR] down in Green Mountain were a season ago. Scrimmages with Royal City, participation in Blood & Thunder and the RVRG Black & White game and other opportunities to skate proved useful and a chance to get Derby legs going.

So with the arrival of April, the Debs brought it on, deciding to face Slaughter Daughters and Montreal in back to back pre-season matches. The Derby Debutantes encounter at Parliament Kill featuring the RVRG Slaughter Daughters on the 9th of April was a bruising wake-up call for the team.

La Racaille are coming to town!

Mark April 16 on your Derby calendar for next month. La Racaille are coming to Toronto.

New Skids hoping to score Canadian goose points

Montreal vs Oly – The OFFICIAL Recap

Post update:

Sunday night: Oh well. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad indeed! Oly 212 Skids 53.

A link to the story is here: Oly Rollers vs New Skids

Saturday night: New SKids on the Block 121 Jet City Bombers 100 !

Skids are 2 for 2 on their Western swing!

Friday night:
As the New Skids head out West to get their Derby education they come from being behind at halftime 70-41 to take down Rat City All Stars 103 – 110!

---

Listening to Derby Deeds is so much fun!

Good luck New Skids taking on the new Trifecta for a fast series of bouts- Rat City Friday, Jet City Saturday,  Oly Sunday?

“We like quickies,” says Tushy McGee of New SKids who was the guest du jour.

Bonne chance! Maybe going overseas? Boston end of February, Beast, Texas, Houston in July when it’s hot to make up for the Canadian cold.

Sunday there will be a dance off. Will the pants be off ?