Culture

The Blue Mountains Roller Derby League (BMRDL) Travel Team – the Free Sisters – will be competing in the Second Round of the 5x5 Roller Derby Championships, on home ground Saturday April 28 at the Katoomba Sports & Aquatics Centre.

The now well established Five by Five (5×5) Roller Derby Championship, is a 6 month round robin Roller Derby tournament. Now in its 6th year, the 5×5 features 10 teams across two divisions (5×5 Armageddon and 5×5 Battlegrounds) battling it out for not one, but two trophies plus roller derby supremacy.

Blue Mountains cemented their reputation as a seriously competitive league in 2017 by coming second in the Battlegrounds Division. This year they move up to the Armageddon Division, battling it out with prominent leagues such as Newcastle Roller Derby League and Sydney Roller Derby League.

BMRDL President, Maielevelent, said of the upcoming round, “I urge anyone interested in the fastest growing full contact sport for women in Australia, to take this opportunity to come along and check out these competitive teams in action!”

Tickets will be available at the door and all welcome. Doors open from 12.30pm with the first bout commencing at 1.00pm. There will be four bouts across the afternoon with some teams travelling from as far afield as Newcastle and Canberra to compete.

BMRDL will be battling it out with Central Coast Roller Derby at 7.00pm. Make sure you’re there to cheer on the Free Sisters!!

Starting in May, BMRDL will be running an Introduction to Roller Derby Program for women and men interested in getting involved in roller derby – as skaters, referees and/or officials. No skating experience is necessary!

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/bmrdl/ or for a full list of the 5x5 round robin schedule go to: https://www.facebook.com/5x5derby/

Photo shows BMRDL Free Sisters vs South Side Derby Dolls, at 2017 5x5 tournament in Katoomba. Photo courtesy of Brigitte Grant Photography