We traveled over to Manchester to see our mates at Manchester Roller Derby. Our A team were playing

their A team, The Checkerbroads. We’re frenemies, but not really, well just for 60 minutes once a year.

To warm us up for the game we watched MRD’s lads B team Chaos Engine playing

Hades Roller Boys. We’d had the chance to see Chaos Engine play recently at the

mens sur5al and were well impressed with them so it was good to see them all

playing. We all love Jim Jams, so we were cheering on Chaos Engine. I could only

get my child to spend time with me that day with the promise of Jim Jams. We’re all

mega fans of his awesome footwork and his ability to outrun everyone!

So some good gentlemanly bashing aside, The Birds were ready for action. Led by

newly appointed captain Yolanda B. Cruel, it was a formidable line up of amazing

ladies. But of course The Checkerbroads roster was equally formidable. So it was set

to be a great game.

Last time these two played MRD took a decisive win of 273-80. The Birds had been

training hard and learning from that, even getting MRD’S own Tori Bee in for a

session during the summer. This time they were prepared to fight for it.

The Birds were off to a great start, Killamandjaro jamming first, getting lead, hitting

and quitting to put the first points on the board with Tink, Daria and Corey following

suit. It was a fast paced and tough game, each team equalling each others blocking

and jamming abilities, tit for tat for the first half of the first half. The Birds rookie

jammer Becky Ruckus doing some gutsy aggressive jamming and racking up a few

points with her non stop feet. We saw beautiful jammer footwork from both teams

and apex jumps apiece from Tink and Tori. Amazing tight walls all round and non

stop recycling of jammers. Just when they thought they were out, they pulled em back

in!! Just before half time saw a few power jams against The Birds which brought a

lead change and the points gap widening. Still within touching distance of each other

however and still a very tight game LRB 86 to MRD’s 93. So close!

Second half kicked off with MRD gaining lead a fair bit and putting up the points,

usually with a yellow jammer not far behind. MRD’s blockers Kate Push, Iko, Kerried

Alive and Psychosis hammering our jammers and sparking off some serious derby

crushes! There was a power jam that saw the Birds kill the penalty time perfectly,

minimising point scoring by recycling and reforming. Metal Alchemist seemed to just

be doing it with one shoulder for most of it. It was absolutely text book. Seeing a team

kill penalty time so well is one of my favourite things ever and it was really wonderful

to see.

Then the crap thing happened and our brilliant Tink got herself hurt. Broken hurt

Though we didn’t know it at the time because she’s made of the stuff of Scottish

legends and hobbled about not wanting a fuss. She found out later (much later! After

gin and chicken!) that her ankle was broken. Get well soon Stinky!

The team battled on with Tink watching from the bench and kept up a tough fight

to the last jam, some last minute leads and quick call offs the game ended LRB 134

MRD 199. Very different to last year and a rankings boost for The Birds.

No doubt we’ll meet again next year. Until then why not head over to Preston on 4th

October to see our B team take on Preston Roller Girls.

All photos courtesy of Joe Ehlen Photography.