photo courtesy of Geex Quad Photo

Richter City Roller Derby has some new recruits who are quickly proving their skills out in the world of derby. Last weekend Skate Tartare, recent graduates of Richter City’s freshmeat programme, with some help from our friends, Swamp City Roller Rats (Palmerston North), faced off for the second time against Levin’s Whenua Fatales new grads (helped by Rimutaka Roller Derby and River City Rollers). In tribute to May the 4th, the event was Star Wars themed and the Fatales played as the Jedi Frights.

Skate Tartare took an early lead and held it through the first half with excellent defense and strong jamming. By half time, the score was 92 (Skate Tartare) to 84 (Jedi Frights). In the second half the Jedi Frights had a come back and the score became too close for comfort for Skate Tartare. With some words of wisdom from our benchies Bubble O’Kill and Poise N’ Dart, Skate Tartare went back to basics and produced strong defensive walls, holding off the Frights advances. Excellent jamming and blocking was displayed on both sides.

photo courtesy of Geex Quad Photo

Skate Tartare pulled out a hard fought win with a final score of 192-170. Special thanks goes to the Whenua Fatales for hosting!

Congratulations also to the award winners from Skate Tartare:

• Best Jammer: Firefly Spirit (Swamp City)
• Best Blocker: Minz and Needles (Swamp City)
• MVP: Burn Witch Burn (Richter City)

On 13 July, the Richter City All Stars welcomed Melbourne's Victoria Roller Derby League (VRDL) Queen Bees for a game which would be Richter City’s final hurdle to becoming fully sanctioned by the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

The Richter City All Stars have been racking up victories around New Zealand and were eager to meet a new challenge from across the ditch. Over 1,000 fans gathered at the TSB Arena to see how the home team would stack up against the Aussies. With VRDL's fierce reputation as the best league in Australasia, the Queen Bees promised a competitive and unmissable game.

Photo credit: Masanori Udagawa

The Queen Bees were quick to assert themselves on the track, demonstrating strong offensive play to counter the All Stars characteristic defensive walls. They were quick to capitalise on a power jam conceded in the first jam to take an early lead. But this was to be no walk over. The All Stars showed their strength of pack awareness and bridging to keep scoring passes to a minimum; doing their best to tire out the jammers early on. The first half saw the score mostly in VRDL's favour - with the All Stars fighting hard to keep up, managing a lead change to keep the crowd on the edge of their seats. But as their blockers focussed on holding the Queen Bees jammers, the All Stars jammers were given a tough time by the hard hitting Bees. At the end of the first half, the Queen Bees had taken a strong lead at 136-83.

Welcome Melbourne's VRDL Queen Bees to Wellington as they line up against the Richter City All Stars on Saturday 13 July. VRDL is well-regarded as the top roller derby league in Australia, winning the Australasian Great Southern Slam tournament and having been invited to compete in the championship tournament in the United States in 2012.

The Queen Bees is the league's B Team. But this will be no B-grade match up. Wear purple and orange and throw your support behind your Richter City All Stars.

This will be your last chance to see the Richter City All Stars play at home this year, so don't miss out! Visit www.ticketek.co.nz to get your tickets.

On Saturday 15 June, Brutal Pageant took to the track with style for their first game of the season. Smash Malice were ready to meet them, with a lot to prove after their loss to Comic Slams at the season opener in April.

The bout introduced plenty of changes and new faces for the crowd, with Brutal Pageant proudly promoting the debuts of Poise n Dart, Gael Force, and Bedlam Bailey. Pageant also welcomed Volcanic Ash (formerly of Comic Slams) and Blocktimus Prime, all the way from chilly Dunedin and new to Richter City. Smash Malice weren’t to be out done with fresh faces, with Scary Maclary joining after a season with Comic Slams in 2012.

Yet, it was a hectic start to the bout. Malice’s Skanda Lass claimed lead jammer and 9 points to boot before taking a trip to the penalty bin, allowing Pageant’s Beatrix Skiddo to rack up18 points. Pageant then took advantage with a strong lead, showing smart clean jamming and smart start line offense. With the pressure on, Malice had to respond. The teams matched point for point in nail biting game play, with Malice just coming out in front at 65-58 at the end of the first half.

Jem Molition and Velocity Raptor hold a Pageant jammer. Photo credit: Masanori Udagawa.

The second half saw Pageant break out great defence, holding Malice jammers back for several passes for natural grand slams. Malice sought to pass the star to pivots, but were foiled as Pageant focused in with strong blocking – taking the lead at 78-65. Malice broke the momentum with a time out, and came back fighting – scoring a century and gaining confidence.

After seeing the rip roaring start to the season, Brutal Pageant is ready to take things to a next level when they step on the track to compete against Smash Malice. Brutal Pageant has been biding their time, training hard, and it’s time to show the league what they are capable of.

But Smash Malice haven’t been slacking off. The leopard print clad team are hungry for a win after a narrow loss against Comic Slams. Smash Malice need to win this game if they want a shot at the season final – but Brutal Pageant want it just as much.

Richter City’s second home game of the season will take place on Saturday 15 June, when Brutal Pageant take to the track for the first time in 2013 to take on Smash Malice.

Both squads feature an exciting mix of familiar team members and new players, who are ready to surprise us. This match will be fast paced, action packed, and frankly unmissable.

Don your red and pink to support Brutal Pageant, or black and leopard print for Smash Malice; and be ready to spur your favourite team on! Visit www.ticketek.co.nz to get your tickets.

While things have been quiet in Wellington, Richter City’s interleague teams have been tearing up the country.

On Saturday 4 May, the Richter City All Stars lined up for a second time against Pirate City Rollers All Scars.

Photo credit: James Yang Photography

This time, the All Stars were on the Pirates’ home turf in Auckland, determined to repeat their winning performance from earlier in the year. The hard work between games paid off – with the All Stars victorious again. The final score was 223 – 189.

Eager to get in on the action, the Richter City Convicts travelled to Palmerston North on Saturday 25 May.

Photo Credit: Sandy Carter Photography

Swamp City Roller Rats were ready for a challenging game, and the Convicts delivered. With a final score of 176 – 103, Convicts returned to Wellington triumphant with a win for their first travel game of the year.

The next interleague game will take place in Auckland on Saturday 22 June. This time, the All Stars will meet to play Auckland Roller Derby League.

Richter City’s home season continues with a bout between Brutal Pageant and Smash Malice on Saturday 15 June. Visit www.ticketek.co.nz to get your tickets.

It was a hard fought game on 13 April, but Comic Slams took the win from Smash Malice 161-138.

Comic Slams had a stellar first jam, taking a 35 point lead as Smash Malice conceded a power jam. Their momentum continued, taking 43 points unchallenged before Smash Malice finally got lead jammer and began to chip away at the score. Comic Slams showed strong defensive walls to shut down the scoring opportunities for Smash Malice, closing the first half at 98-56 to Comic Slams.

But at the beginning of the second half, Smash Malice fought back strongly – aided by a few power jams to get them within a whisker of Slams at 98-84. Smash Malice made some good headway, baffling the crowd with great use of star passing – with cohesive work between their jammers and pivots to get the star through for scoring.

The game saw new players debuting on both teams – with former NSO Skatehoven taking to wheels for Comic Slams, along with Sweaty Pig; while Jamit Frame and Rainbow Renegade donned the leopard print and black with Smash Malice for their first home games for Richter City.

Richter City Roller Derby’s first home game for 2013 on Saturday will see an epic rematch of last year’s season closer – with winners Comic Slams facing off against Smash Malice to see if they can hold their title for another year.

Both the blue and silver Comic Slams and leopard print clad Smash Malice have highly competitive streaks, promising a fast paced, action packed game. With the season based on a round robin, the stakes are high – as teams are looking for the biggest points differential to secure their place in the final.

Don’t miss the action at TSB Arena on Saturday 13 April. Doors open at 6pm, with the first whistle at 7pm. Tickets are available at the door or at www.ticketek.co.nz

Following fast on the heels of a nail-biting season opener game between the Richter City All Stars and Pirate City Rollers from Auckland, the home season game promises more action packed games of edge-of-your-seat roller derby. Season passes are available to see all four home season games for just $45 at the door.

Saturday 13 April – Comic Slams vs. Smash Malice
Saturday 15 June – Smash Malice vs. Brutal Pageant
Saturday 31 August – Brutal Pageant vs. Comic Slams
Saturday 2 November – Season Final.

Photo courtesy of Masanori Udagawa