Roller derby returns to the rink

DRIVING past the Bendigo Showgrounds on Sunday afternoon, you’d be forgiven for not knowing that inside the Regional Events Complex one of the most niche, and intense, sports was being played.

The Dragon City Roller Derby club meets three times a week with a range of sessions for all skills and interest levels in the all-female sport.

Players catch up, chat for a bit and warm up before lacing up the skates and rolling into combat.

“It’s exciting, terrifying, enlivening and cathartic at times,” said Fiona Gale, who competes under the name Fatal Phoenix. “It’s wonderful.

“It’s a great club to be a part of because it’s so inclusive, there’s no boundaries or limits to who you are, as long as you’re over 18.”

Julia Donier, who has competed in France and Canada before moving to Bendigo, said it doesn’t matter what your level of skating is.

“You can start even if you’ve never skated before,” she said. “Many of us started late in their life, it’s not a sport you really do as a child, so you can start from scratch.

“Whatever type of athlete you are you can find a spot where you’ll be useful for the team.”

DCRD currently has one team that enters in regional and statewide competitions, the Chico Rollers.

Ms Donier, who skates under the name Smacaron, said since COVID-19 restrictions eased the club has seen increasing numbers of new and returning players.

Roller derby is a full contact sport involving two teams of five. Four blockers play a defensive role against one offensive player who scores each time they pass the opposition around the rink.

To help get new players familiar with the sport, club is hosting a come and try session, in collaboration with the This Girl Can campaign and the Bendigo Pride Festival.

Between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, 27 March. there will be mixed gender junior sessions, a female over-18 session and a mixed-gender over-18 session.

For more information search Dragon City Roller Derby on Facebook.