52 in 52 – Derby nomad on the road

Round round get around I get around

Derby, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the … its one year mission – to boldly try once more for 52 in 52

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

You can call me the photographer derby nomad on the road. And on a new note: Th-that may be all folks! for this year. Thanks to everyone who made it happen!

I actually ran into the USS DentHerPrise! and K-Wow!

Hammer City Eh! Team vs. Killamazoo Derby Darlins in Caledonia, Ontario in February on the coldest day of the year. This is shot INDOORS.

Saturday, December 14, 2013 – Detroit Pistoffs vs. Grand Prix Madonnas [Season 09 Game 04] – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI
Saturday, December 7, 2013 – Nickel City Knockouts vs. Thames Fatales / Pack-Men [London Men’s Roller Derby] vs. Slaughter Squad [Ottawa] – Western Fair Agriplex, London, Ontario
Sunday, December 1, 2013 – Crashing Through The Snow – [co-ed and junior black and white scrimmages] – The Bunker – Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
Saturday, November 30, 2013 – Team Canada Eastern try-outs – New Hamburg, Ontario
Sunday, November 24, 2013 – Los Coños vs. Total Vicious Tramps [Tri-City Rollergirls] – Ancaster, Ontario
Friday, November 8 to Sunday, November 10, 2013 – WFTDA 2013 Championships – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – US Cellular Arena
Sunday, October 27, 2013 – Monster Mash co-ed scrimmage hosted by Orangeville – Mono, Ontario
Sunday, October 27, 2013 – Toronto Men’s Roller Derby – The Bunker – Downsview Park, Ontario
Saturday, October 26, 2013 – The Rolling Dead – Grey Bruce Highland Dames vs. Woodstock Warriors – Woodstock, Ontario
Saturday, October 19, 2013 – Misfit Militia vs. Bay Street Bruisers / Grand Raggidy vs. CN Power – The Bunker – Toronto Ontario
Saturday, October 12, 2013 – Thames Fatales vs. Luscious Lunch Ladies – Western Fair Agriplex – London, Ontario
Saturday, October 5, 2013 – Thames Fatales vs. Venus Fly Tramps / Luscious Lunch Ladies vs. Total Knock-Outs – New Hamburg, Ontario
Saturday, September 14, 2013 – Bay Street Bruisers vs. Total Knock-Outs / Royal City The Brute-Leggers vs. Vicious Dishes – Cambridge, Ontario
Friday September 6 to Sunday, September 8, 2013 – 2013 WFTDA Division I Playoffs: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Sunday, September 1, 2013 – Team Canada Men’s Roller Derby tryouts – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
Friday, August 23 to Sunday, August 25, 2013 – 2013 WFTDA Division II Playoffs: Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Stadium – Kalamazoo, Michigan
Saturday, August 17, 2013 – Toronto Roller Derby vs. Montreal Roller Derby – D-VAS vs. Montreal Smash Squad / Bay Street Bruisers vs. Montreal Sexpos – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
Saturday, August 10, 2013 – Rumble in the Underground – Alliston Bombshell Battalion 148 vs. Kingston Skateful Dead 137 – Kingston Memorial Centre – Kingston, Ontario
Saturday, August 3, 2013 – Toronto Men’s Roller Derby 105 vs. [Montreal Men’s Roller Derby] La Poutine 368 / Ottawa Slaughter Squad 124 vs. Les Mont-Royals 263 – Arena St-Louis, Montréal, Quebec
Sunday, July 28, 2013 – 3rd Annual Gibson’s Cup – DRRDy Farmers vs. Lindsay Roller Girls / Atom Smashers vs. Motor City Madames – Ajax Community Centre – Ajax, Ontario
Saturday, July 27, 2013 – Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Renegade Derby Dames – Orangeville Agricultural Centre – Orangeville, Ontario
Saturday, July 20, 2013 – Hammer City Eh! Team vs. Hudson Valley Horrors / Hammer City Harlots vs. Hudson Valley ZomBsquad – Dave Andreychuk Arena – Hamilton, Ontario
Saturday, July 13, 2013 – Fresh and Furious
Thursday, July 11, 2013 – Rollergettes shirt
Saturday, July 6, 2013 – Hammer City Harlots vs. Killer Queens / Thames Fatales vs. Violet Uprising – Sleeman Centre – Guelph, Ontario
Thursday, July 4, 2013 – Rollergettes
Friday, June 28, 2013 – 5th Annual Clam Slam – Toronto, ONTARIO
Thursday, June 27, 2013 – Rollergettes
Sunday, June 23, 2013 – Northumberland Roller Girls vs. Seaway Roller Derby Girls [Cornwall] – Cobourg, ONTARIO
Saturday, June 22, 2013 – South Simcoe Boneyard Betties vs. Orangeville Pulp Affliction / South Simcoe Ghoul Guides vs. Grey Bruce Highland Dames – Barrie Curling Club – Barrie, Ontario
Thursday, June 20, 2013 – Rollergettes
Saturday, June 15, 2013 – Toronto Roller Derby Battle for the Boot 2013 – Death Track Dolls vs. Smoke City Betties – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
Thursday, June 13, 2013 – Rollergettes
Saturday, June 8, 2013 – Peterborough Roller Derby Jamazons vs. Toronto Roller Derby D-VAS – Peterborough, Ontario
Friday, June 7, 2013 – Toronto LOCO
Saturday, June 1, 2013 – Queen City Roller Girls Championship – Devil Dollies vs. Nickel City Knockouts – Rainbow Rink – Buffalo, NY
Thursday, May 30, 2013 – Rollergettes
Saturday, May 25, 2013 – Toronto Roller Derby semi-finals – Gore Gore Rollergirls vs. Smoke City Betties – D-VAS vs. South Simcoe – The Bunker – Parc Downsview Park, ONTARIO
Friday, May 24, 2013 – Toronto LOCO
Saturday, May 18, 2013 – Detroit Derby Girls championship 2012-13 – Detroit Pistoffs vs. Grand Prix Madonnas – Masonic Temple – Detroit, Michigan
Saturday, May 11, 2013 – Queen City Roller Girls playoffs – Nickel City Knockouts vs. Alley Kats / Devil Dollies vs. Suicidal Saucies – Rainbow Rink, North Tonawanda, NY
Saturday, May 4, 2013 – Durham Region Roller Derby 2013 Season Opener – Northumberland vs. DRRDy Farmers, Atom Smashers vs. Motor City Madames – Ajax, ONTARIO
Saturday, April 28 to Sunday, April 29, 2013 – Beast of the East – Montrèal, Quèbec
Friday April 27, 2013 – CN Power vs. New Skids on the Block – Montrèal, Quebec
Sunday, April 21, 2013 – TORONTO JUNIOR ROLLER DERBY and TORONTO MEN’S ROLLER DERBY presents Fundraising Scrimmage – The Bunker, Toronto, ONTARIO – [my birthday]
Saturday, April, 20, 2013 – Long Island vs. Lake Effect Furies / Devil Dollies vs. Suicidal Saucies – Queen City – Rainbow Rink, Tonawanda, NY – birthday weekend
Saturday, April 13, 2013 – Toronto Roller Derby 2013 presents Home Season Games 3 & 4 – Chicks Ahoy! vs. Smoke City Betties / Death Track Dolls vs. Gore Gore Roller-Girls
Sunday, April 7, 2013 – Big Hittin’ in Little Britain – Alliston Bombshell Battalion vs. Peterborough Jamazons / Lindsay vs. Northumberland – Peterborough, Ontario
Saturday, April 6, 2013 – Vicious Dishes vs. TKOs – TCRG season opener – New Hamburg, Ontario
Saturday, March 30, 2013 – Death Track Dolls vs. Timber Rollers / Thames Fatales vs. Luscious Lunch Ladies – Western Agriplex, London, Ontario
Sunday, March 24, 2013 – Quad City Chaos 2013 – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
Saturday, March 23, 2013 – Quad City Chaos 2013 – The Bunker, Parc Downsview Park, Ontario
Saturday, March 16, 2013 – first time on the road to photo Woodstock Warriors vs. DRRDy Farmers from Durham !
Sunday, March 10, 2013 – NCKO practice – Rainbow Rink, Buffalo, NY
Saturday, March 10, 2013 – Queen City Roller Girls presents “Bewitched” – Ice Ice Babies vs. Cereal Killers / Nickel City Knockouts vs. Alley Kats – Rainbow Rink, Buffalo, NY
Saturday, March 3, 2013 – Forest City Derby Girls presents Full Contact Derby – FCDG Plan B Activate vs. Vicious Dishes and Friends [Tri-City] / Forest City Timber Rollers vs. The Brute-Leggers [Royal City Roller Girls] – Western Agriplex, London, Ontario
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 – Durham vs. Bay Street Bruisers – Coachlite, Oshawa, Ontario
Sunday, February 24, 2013 – HCRG vs. Toronto Roller Derby – Caledon Fair, Caledon, Ontario
Saturday, February 23, 2013 – D-VAS vs. Tenacious B’s – Queensmount Arena, Kitchener, Ontario
Thursday, February 21, 2013 – Durham vs. Gore Gore Rollergirls – Coachline, Oshawa, Ontario
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 – Durham vs. D-VAS – Coachlite, Oshawa, Ontario
Sunday, February 17, 2013 – Alley Kats, Suicidal Saucies, NCKO practice – Rainbow Rink, Buffalo, NY
Saturday, February 16, 2013 – Queen City presents “Bewitched” – Ice Ice Babies vs. Cereal Killers / NCKO vs. Devil Dollies – Rainbow Roller Rink – Buffalo, NY
Saturday, February 9, 2013 – Orangeville Pulp Affliction vs. Fergus Feims – Orangeville Fairground, Orangeville, Ontario
Monday, February 4, 2013 – Los Coños vs. Rollergettes – Ancaster Fairgrounds, Ancaster, Ontario
Sunday, February 3, 2013 – Toronto Roller Derby presents…Toronto All-Star Roller Derby hosted training camp and WFTDA-rules officiating clinic – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
Sunday, February 3, 2013 – HCRG Eh! vs. Killamazoo Derby Darlins – Caledonia Fair, Caledon, Ontario
Saturday, February 2, 2013 – CN Power vs. Killamazoo Derby Darlins / Bay Street Bruisers vs. Killa Crew – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
Sunday, January 27, 2013 – NCKO practice – Rainbow Rink, Queen City / Buffalo, NY
Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Doin’ It Our Way – Lake Effect Furies vs. Rideau Valley Vixens / Alley Kats vs. Devil Dollies – Rainbow Rink, Buffalo, NY
Saturday, January 26, 2013 – Open Scrimmage hosted by Toronto Roller Derby TMNT vs Power Rangers! – The Bunker, Toronto, Ontario
Saturday, January 19, 2013 – Tri-City No Minors Bootcamp – New Hamburg Arena, New Hamburg, Ontario

52 in 52 – Derby nomad on the road

Round round get around I get around

Derby, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the … its one year mission – to boldly try once more for 52 in 52

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

You can call me the photographer derby nomad on the road. And on a new note: Th-that may be all folks! for this year. Thanks to everyone who made it happen!
I actually ran into the USS DentHerPrise! and K-Wow!

Saturday, December 14, 2013 – Detroit Pistoffs vs. Grand Prix Madonnas [Season 09 Game 04] – Masonic Temple – Detroit, MI Continue reading “52 in 52 – Derby nomad on the road” →

Stranger in a Stranger Land – part 4 – It’s a family affair as bloo! knockout red Saucies DSC_6423-Edit

DSC_6423-Edit, originally uploaded by Midnight Matinee 24.
Who knew what malice of forethought lay between the sibling rivalry that existed deep with Queen City. Lamb Chop, captain of the Nickel City Knockouts looked to inflict some pain upon her brother and rival Señor Wiener who stood by the bench of the Suicidal Saucies as their coach.

Please note that this is still a story in draft form. Stranger in a Stranger Land – part 3 to come later.

These were just some of our thoughts as we ventured back down into the States for yet another heart-stopping experience of the Queen City brand of Derby at its best. The tasty treats of the evening included the Lake Effects ice cream! A tempting selection of Queen City Roller Girls Rocky Road, Salty Caramel, Vanilla & Graceland (inspired by Elvis). Not being able to wait until halftime and at the behest of Diamond CrushHer the Rocky Road was delved into, and it was pure heaven. Cold chocolate and delectable marshmallows for that sweet bite.

After ice cream, revenge is a dish best served cold and the Saucies were looking out to get back for their loss to the Knockouts the season before. The Saucies bench was strong replete with representation from the QCRG All-star travelling team Lake Effect Furies, but Lamb Chop, herself a Furies veteran, stood with 20 strong Knockouts behind her. In between them stood Mama Chop, the inveterate waver of the mighty foamy lamb chop. But on this game day she could have been torn figuring out how to support the two teams while she bled blue inside. Adding to the mixture was the other family member Shock-Her who had to remain neutral as head ref for the night. The Saucies and coach had to rebound from the sour taste of a loss in a close bout from three weeks before with the Alley Kats, a match that could have gone either way. With first game experience behind them, the Saucies used the interim between bouts to get everyone onto the same page, draftees and veterans alike. Part of the Knockouts advantage was more cohesiveness as a team, having had to fill fewer holes in their roster between seasons.

Sweetening the pot for the night were the Ice Ice Babies opening the night and making their bout debut before a live audience. The energy of the junior team of Queen City was running rambunctious around the rink as they quickly donned uniforms for the night and their team photo. The Ice Ice Babies divided into two teams of Frost Bites and Snow Bunnies, nervously taking in the energy of the crowd as they circled the track for their introductions. The bout was limited to a 10 minute period with one minute jams. Yet it probably felt like an eternity for the fearless and talented bunch on the rink. The referees had to race to keep up with the Babies jammers. Scoring ran high with the score reaching 90 to 84 by the end of it all.

The Ice Ice Babies bout meant the Knockouts and the Suicidal Saucies had to warm up twice which may have dissipated some of their bout energy. The night was less of the devastation and more into the go for broke jamming and defensive posturing. The blue was more than dressing down the Saucies as the first period ended with a 101-45 advantage. Crazy Legs only took to the jammer line once for the Knockouts but they had the indomitable BJ Harmstrong and Ruby Revenge and Unsung. It was hard to not notice those particular ruby red shorts on the line.

The 101-45 halftime advantage underscored the decisiveness of the Knockouts as they preyed on and pried upon holes in the Saucies pack. By the end of the night the lead crept near the triple digits, but that was not the story of the night which was another nose injury inflicted upon QCRG and the Saucies’s Nova Cain. Brave soul that she was, she came back donning the face guard to jam again for her team.

The night concluded with a 191-93 score for the blue, with the house music blazing LMAO and the ladies dancing on the track. With some shaking of hands with the audience and hugs with friends, it was not the usual everyone dashing to ring around at trackside to get the low or high five with their heroes of the night&#emdash;at QCRGm the crowd is already as close to the track as they can get&#emdash;it’s that intimate.

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The after-party at the Renaissance was a short drive away after the coach of the Saucies had proffered a bottle of American champagne to the victors. The theme of the night was soup, and homemade soup it was that hit the spot for the hungry and exhausted skaters who were slurping on the likes of bacon and cheeseburger, pasta, cheese and beer, a sweet potato chili that was all vegetarian and all good. While trying to stay on the outside and witness the red and the blue, we offered the Knockouts captain the Toblerone rose we had been carrying across the border. It may have been the dumbest thing we ever tried to do, but getting the hug and the invite to sit with the blue was even more than icing on the cake, it was being in the middle of a dream come true. It could have been a dangerous tactic by yours truly to wear the Team Canada t-shirt when Team USA’s Addy Rawl was sitting at the same tabke, wearing her Team USA jacket and shirt. We could only remark upon the World Cup match of Stars vs. Stripes back in Toronto when the two sides during warm-up and introductions circled the track at a breakneck speed never before seen in Canada. She remembered the night well, and remarked how exhausted she was afterwards. Surprising how feisty some Team Argentina player can be, shouting “blooooo!” with the accompaniment of the rest of the bloo cast. A photographer’s job should never stop and some discrete photos were taken here and there. Journey was playing downstairs which beckoned Diamond and crew to the gym hall while others took leaves to go the after-after-party. It seemed a shame not to partake of the price of beer in Queen City, and after passing over the choices of Blue or Canadian and instead asking the barkeep for a good American beer, he offered Budweiser. We talked about the differences in Canadian and American beer, and he said something along the lines that the US was not allowed to offer the high alcohol content up in Canada.

While the beer was going down and soup being sipped, the clean-up was on with Mama and her small motley crew washing out crock pots and bowls and figuring out how to carry what was left back home. [It was all good soup, just more than could be supped on.] While everyone took off or finally fell asleep watching the end of Fargo on the high definition cable in the darkness, it was time to hit the pillow yet again in America.

/… more

This is a story still in the writing and editing stage.