Email news@cardiffrollercollective.com with your pitch.

My injury happened in September 2011 after a series of unfortunate events coincided. I hadn’t skated for a month, I was tired and there was no tread left on my wheels for grip. During a mixed scrimmage I was chasing the jammer as she left the pack, attempting to recycle her. I think I clipped my wheels with hers, the rest is a little bit of a blur, so I’m going to rely on eye witness testimony: “You bounced off your head” – Jen Baxter.

The refs called for everyone to take a knee because I wasn’t able to compose myself quickly enough to get off the track. My fiancé was reffing that night and was first on the scene. He took me to the sin bin where some of my team mates could keep an eye on me while the rest of the team kept playing.

After a couple of jams my head didn’t hurt as much so I headed back to my bench. I noticed my fingers were hurting a little so I took off my rings, just in case they started to swell.

Another couple of jams went by and I was back on track. Every time I would come off for a break I noticed my fingers were hurting more and more, but I could wiggle them so I assumed everything was fine. Clearly, I have no medical training!

I went home and iced my fingers without even considering going to casualty. It was a Friday night so I knew it would be crazy and I genuinely didn’t think anything was wrong. Luckily my mum is a trained first aider and, the next day, took one look at my now black fingers and took me to the hospital. Four hours later I got the news I’d been dreading: I’d broken my ring and little finger on my right hand.

The injury suggested that I had put my hand out to break my fall and bent both these fingers back so far that the tendons had chipped the bones. I asked the nurse if I would be able to play the weekend after, and she said, in no uncertain terms, that I couldn’t. This is when I started to cry. For the first time I realized that this injury was going to affect playing.

Having a finger injury isn’t the worst. After a week I was back on skates so that I could assist with coaching and was able to work on my fitness as well as using that time to support the rest of the team. Within 6 weeks I was scrimmaging again, and was able to play in an open bout at the end of November.

Despite my confidence at playing again a lot of the people closest to me knew that my fingers weren’t healing as they should. I wasn’t able to extend the two broken fingers passed a certain point. To cut a long story short I went to see my GP in December with regards my non-healing fingers and finally saw a specialist in March, 2012, five months after I initially sustained my injury.

The news wasn’t great. After meeting with two hand specialist, a physio and 5 other people who I think were just curious, I got my diagnosis. The gristle that stops your fingers from hyper extending had shrunk while my fingers were bandaged.

I had 3 options:
1. Physiotherapy
2. Surgery, or
3. Do nothing

Some of you may already have decided what you’d do, but I should also point this out: it didn’t matter which option I chose, the extent of the damage was such that I would never be able to extend my fingers fully again. To me the choice was obvious but many of you will probably disagree. A lot of people do.

I’ve chosen to do nothing. Well, not completely, I do a little physio myself. When I first told my Mum and my fiancé what my decision was they both went on to tell me how wrong I was, and still do from time to time.

If you’re wondering why I’ve chosen this option there’s a little experiment you can do to help you understand. Bind your little finger and ring finger together in a buddy strap then go about your day. How much stuff can’t you do now? For me, my day to day life is unaffected by my injury. I refuse, therefore to put myself through hours of pain and discomfort in order to get a little more movement from two fingers I don’t use. I’d lose work to go to hospital appointments (I’m self-employed so there’s no sick leave) and I wouldn’t be able to drive after the operation so even more work lost and I’d need to ask people to drive me to the shops and training.

As I am now I can crack on with my life as it was before. I’m still playing derby, knitting, teaching, quilting, driving and I’ve recently started pole dancing with some of my team mates. The only thing I can’t do is give a right handed high five!

Skating with CRoC over the last two years has been amazing. When I started derby I was hoping to learn a new and interesting sport while meeting people with similar interests. I’ve achieved this, and more. The skaters, refs, coaches, supporters and everyone else who has a hand in this amazing team are like a family to me. As much as this injury may have been frustrating, painful, and unexpectedly permanent, it can’t compare with the friends, experiences and self confidence I’ve gained through playing.

Stay safe and love every minute,

Grazed Anatomy xx

We are welcoming all skaters to our 6 week roller derby recruitment session in Bridgend. Our experienced derby players will go through the basics of skating, from stops to turns, giving you the skills you need to start your derby career. If you’re already a competent skater we will help you improve your skills and teach you the techniques you need for derby.

Skating for the first time can be scary so skaters at each session will be split into groups allowing you to progress at your own pace. To play roller derby you need to pass minimum skills, this is a requirement of the sport and we will help you tick off these competencies over the weeks. We don’t expect you to complete all the required skills in this short time but these sessions are designed to get you well on your way.

Sessions are at a new time and location:
Bridgend Recreation Centre
Angel Street
Bridgend
CF31 4AH

6:30pm to 8:30pm

Dates are as follows:

Session 1 – Sunday 24th June

Session 2 – Sunday 1st July

Session 3 – Sunday 8th July

Session 4 – Sunday 15th July

CRoC vs. Severn Roller Torrent – Sunday 22nd July (no session)

Session 5 – Sunday 29th July

Session 6 – Sunday 5th August

Each session costs £5, if you pay in advance it is £25 for the full 6 sessions. We will also throw in a free ticket to our home game on the 22nd of July if you pay for the full course. This will give you the opportunity to see first hand how the skills you have learnt can be used in a roller derby game.

We have skates and protective gear you can borrow at no extra cost, of course you can bring your own if you have it already. There is limited space on our 6 week recruitment so book your spot now.

The Slayers took an early lead thanks to some great jamming and a number of Rude Bird penalties. It was a close fought and tactical first half that saw neither team being able to get a tight grip on the game. The Slayers disciplined performance in the first half, gave the Rude Birds very little opportunity to close the gap, with both teams trading 4 point jams. It was a game on inches with neither team wishing to give anything away. At the end of the first half, the Slayers took a twenty two point lead in to the break to lead 79-101.

The second half got underway on a brief Swansea power jam, as the jammers from both sides had merrily traded penalties in the closing jam of the first half. Some sterling defensive work on behalf of the Rude Birds on the opening jam seemed to become a theme of the second half with Rude Birds causing more and more problems for the Slayers. Cardiff’s own power jam opportunity finally presented itself early in the second half with Chant Hell taking full advantage and posting 30 points in one jam to give the Rude Birds the lead.

From this moment the game seemed to open up and with it the physicality of the game increased. Lady Loco of the Slayers and Jen Baxter of the Rude Birds led the charge in big hits as the following jams saw both jammers taking a battering on their way through the pack. As the game opened up and the hits rained in, the Rude Birds seemed to come in to their own and they started to put their stamp on the game. Staunch defensive work, while multiple blockers down, minimised Swansea’s potent Power Jam threat, and gave the Rude Birds a platform to build their lead on.

The Rude Bird Bench, positively swelled by the performance, indulges in some between jam dancing.

As the Second half wore on; legs tired, the game opened up further and the big hits came in droves. However, the visitors seemed unable to break down the stubborn blue defence around their jammer and the Rude Birds managed to extend their lead to 60 points, drawing first blood in the series with a final score of 204-147.

Cardiff Roller Collective would like to thank the players, management and fans of the Swansea City Slayers for making the trip down the M4 and making the first game between the two teams an enjoyable occasion for all involved. Cardiff Roller Collective would also like to thank the Skating and Non-skating officials that attended, without you there would be no games.

“Anyone that knows me – knows that I’m quite direct and straight to the point. So my first question to Carwyn Jones was “Hello, do you know what Roller Derby is” “No” was the quick answer. Lucky I came to the meeting prepared. I gave him a copy of our next bout Twin Town Throwdown poster and a few copies of our previous bout programmes.  I told him about all the different teams in Wales and how Roller Derby is the fastest growing sport in the UK. I told him that he should be proud of what Wales has achieved in the sport and there are lots of teams he can follow.”

So now he knows about roller derby I wonder if we should expect him at our next game!

All you have to do is RT this competition on twitter, or share the competition post or event on facebook. We will choose a random winner at 10pm on Thursday the 17th May.

The winner will receive two free tickets to the Twin Town Throw Down bout in Cardiff on Saturday the 19th of May, featuring our Rude Birds against the Swansea City Slayers.

Hope to see you there!

As of 9^th May 2012 we are officially UKRDA members (http://ukrda.org.uk/?p=312).

There are over 90 leagues in the UK and less than 25 are named as official members on the UKRDA website, so this is an elite group. To become a member leagues must abide by a code of conduct and agree to adhere to UKRDA procedures including health and safety requirements and constitution.

A key part of being a member is demonstrating commitment to positively promote roller derby. For us this part is easy as all our skaters love roller derby and want to spread the word about how it can change your life. I know that sounds cliché but everybody within the roller derby community has a story to tell about how derby has positively affected them.

If you want to become part of our ever growing collective get in touch via email (info@cardiffrollercollective.com) or on our Facebook page. We welcome everyone with open arms so don’t worry if you haven’t skated before.

Cardiff Roller Collective’s Rude Birds will be taking on the Swansea City Slayers, in our FIRST home A-team game of the year.

Join us in an epic roller derby battle of two cities!

Doors open at 2pm
First whistle 2.45pm

Tickets are just £5 in advance! Get yours NOW!

After Party antiks in Ty Glas pub (just around the corner!)

‘Tidy… ring your mother and tell her tidy’