The Hellmilton Roller Ghouls proudly present their first ever home game: ‘BOUT BLOODY TIME!’

On the evening of the 24th of September, Claudelands Arena will shake with the cheers of Roller Derby fans, as the Hellmilton Roller Ghouls present their first bout on home turf.

Roller Derby is a grassroots, all-female sport played on quad skates that has grown into a worldwide phenomenon since its birth in Texas in 2001, and the making of the popular film ‘Whip It’. As a sport that became similar to pro wrestling in the 1970’s, the current revival has shunned the pre-planned drama and action in favour of athletic women skating against each other in a game of strategy and cunning, as well as big hits and sheer guts. The skaters also adopt derby names and themed uniforms for their teams. Since derby arrived in New Zealand, leagues have sprung up in all the major cities, as well as several smaller towns, and this year will see a New Zealand team competing in the first ever Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto, Canada.

The Hamilton League was founded by Fe Foster, known as Miss Metal Militia, in March 2009. After more than a year of training and recruiting, they played their first bout in New Plymouth in September 2010 with their newly formed travel team, Raggedy Angst. Since that bout they have remained undefeated, and are keen to keep their record clean with their first ever home bout at Claudelands.

“It’s the product of years of hard work, and I am just so proud of the team” says Miss Metal Militia, coach of Raggedy Angst and founder of the League. “Most of our team members started as beginners with little or no skating experience, and have come this far through sheer hard work and no small amount of bruises!”

The night will kick off at 6pm with a curtain raiser bout between the newly formed team Dangerous Curves from the Mount Militia Derby Crew in Tauranga, and the Rumblebees of the Taranaki Roller Corps based in New Plymouth. The main bout will begin at 7.30pm, with the Cannon Brawlers of Pirate City Rollers in Auckland taking on the home team Raggedy Angst.

‘Bout Bloody Time’ will no doubt be night of thrills, spills and speed, and this first event of its kind in Hamilton is not to be missed.