Victorian Roller Derby League
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Roller Derby League (VRDL) is a roller derby
league based in Melbourne
, Victoria
. Founded in 2007, the VRDL contains three teams: the Dead Ringer Rosies, Dolls Au-Go-Go and The Toxic Avengers. They also feature two teams, the VRDL All Stars, and Queen Bees, who compete in interleague competitions within Australia and internationally. They are the current first place title holders of The Great Southern Slam, and 'A-Team of the Year' for Womens' Health's 'I Support Women In Sport' campaign.
.
In 2008, the first interleague bout in Australia, Skate of Origin, was held. The VRDL travelled to Adelaide to compete against the Adelaide Roller Derby
league. The Victorians won at the end of a close bout. Other interleague bouts over the years have included Skate of Origin 2 in Melbourne, where the Adelaide team defeated the Victorians; the Great Southern Slam in 2010, in which the VRDL won the largest roller derby competition that had been held outside of the United States; and the Canberra Roller Derby League at the AIS Arena
in Canberra
in 2011. In 2011 the VRDL played the first WFTDA-sanctioned international match against the Hotrod Honeys from the Texas Rollergirls
, losing out to the more experienced side.
In 2010 bouts were moved to the Melbourne Showgrounds, and in 2011 the VRDL was both accepted into the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice
program and gained a new, albeit temporary, training round in Preston
, with plans to move to a new site at Darebin
. The VRDL was the first league in Australia to be accepted into the WFTDA Apprentice program, and this has created opportunities to compete in Europe and the United States.
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
league based in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. Founded in 2007, the VRDL contains three teams: the Dead Ringer Rosies, Dolls Au-Go-Go and The Toxic Avengers. They also feature two teams, the VRDL All Stars, and Queen Bees, who compete in interleague competitions within Australia and internationally. They are the current first place title holders of The Great Southern Slam, and 'A-Team of the Year' for Womens' Health's 'I Support Women In Sport' campaign.
History
Founded in March 2007, the Victorian Roller Derby League was started by Cherry Rockette (Mandar Nelson), Betty Bamalam, Toxic Judy and Hidden Magenta. By the end of the year the VRDL had 40 members, playing their first invite-only bout for friends and family at the Dandenong Showgrounds, and by 2009 the three teams were competing at 'Puckhandlers' in the suburb of ReservoirReservoir, Victoria
Reservoir is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Reservoir had a population of 45,970....
.
In 2008, the first interleague bout in Australia, Skate of Origin, was held. The VRDL travelled to Adelaide to compete against the Adelaide Roller Derby
Adelaide Roller Derby
Adelaide Roller Derby is a roller derby league based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 2007, the league has four competitive teams who compete at the Adelaide Showgrounds, and a combined team that competes with other Australian and New Zealand leagues.-History:Adelaide Roller Derby was...
league. The Victorians won at the end of a close bout. Other interleague bouts over the years have included Skate of Origin 2 in Melbourne, where the Adelaide team defeated the Victorians; the Great Southern Slam in 2010, in which the VRDL won the largest roller derby competition that had been held outside of the United States; and the Canberra Roller Derby League at the AIS Arena
AIS Arena
AIS Arena is a multi-purpose arena located in Canberra, Australia. The capacity is 5,200 and was built in 1980. The arena was opened by the Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Fraser, on 26 January 1981 and was originally named the National Indoor Sports Centre and was the inaugural home of the...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
in 2011. In 2011 the VRDL played the first WFTDA-sanctioned international match against the Hotrod Honeys from the Texas Rollergirls
Texas Rollergirls
The Texas Rollergirls are a flat track roller derby league based in Austin, Texas, . The full trademarked name of the league is Texas Rollergirls Rock-n-Rollerderby...
, losing out to the more experienced side.
In 2010 bouts were moved to the Melbourne Showgrounds, and in 2011 the VRDL was both accepted into the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice
Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice, is the program affiliate of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.- History :In July 2009, the WFTDA announced its new apprentice program for aspiring member leagues that replaced its traditional membership application process...
program and gained a new, albeit temporary, training round in Preston
Preston, Victoria
Preston is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 9 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Darebin. At the 2006 Census, Preston had a population of 27,892.-Settlement:...
, with plans to move to a new site at Darebin
City of Darebin
The City of Darebin is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of , and as of 2009, has a population of 139,608...
. The VRDL was the first league in Australia to be accepted into the WFTDA Apprentice program, and this has created opportunities to compete in Europe and the United States.