Roller Derby Update 4/30/11

Happy birthday to the Texas Rollergirls: April 27 marked the eighth anniversary of their first ever bout. To celebrate, the Texecutioners escape the warmer weather by heading for the cooler climes of Pennsylvania and Washington State.

Texas Rollergirls

It's a major touring month for the Texecutioners. On May 7 the travel team hits Philadelphia as part of a double-header. The Philly Roller Girls unleash their Liberty Belles against the Austin squad while their Independence Dolls face Bostons' B-Party. Two weeks later, all hell may break lose in Washington State as the Texies travel to take on the notorious Oly Rollers on May 21.

Before then, there is a whole month of home events to get through starting with the Honky Tonk Heartbreakers' third annual kickball challenge on May 1. The Heartbreakers head to Columbia, South Carolina to take on their Quad Squad on July 19. All money raised at this open tournament will help with travel expenses. Registration is $10 per player, and you can either sign up as a team or just join a pick-up squad on the day. The fun, which includes drinks and food, starts Sunday at 12pm at Rosewood Park, 1182 N. Pleasant Valley.

The Texas Rollergirls' next home bout will be May 15 at the Austin Convention Center, as the Hell Marys take on the Hustlers, and the Heartbreakers set their sites on delivering a major message to the Hotrod Honeys. Tickets available now through texasrollergirls.org

About that anniversary: As everyone knows by now, Texas was the original skater-owned modern derby league, and several veterans past and present have written about their memories of the landmark bout.

Speaking of landmark events, the league welcomed a future outside pack ref to the world with the birth of Cassius Charles Porter: Congratulations to long-time skater Desi Cration and announcer KoolAid.

TXRD Rollergirls

2010 Calvello Cup holders the Cherry Bombs started their 2011 season the right way earlier this month with a 64-52 win over the Holy Rollers. The champs return to the banked track on May 28 to face the Putas del Fuego, but first the Rhinestone Cowgirls will try to follow their own dominating February victory over the Rollers when they face the Hellcats. That takes place May 14 at the Palmer Event Center: Tickets available now at www.txrd.com

The Lonestar ladies have had to reschedule this weekend's Tour de Franzia fundraiser: A new date will be confirmed soon.

Beyond Austin

Another expansion has been announced for Women's Flat Track Derby Association apprentice program. Twelve leagues from around the US have taken this step to becoming a full WFTDA member, with the breakthrough addition being the Paradise Rollergirls from Hilo, Hawaii. They aim to join Honolulu's Pacific Rollerderby in the main roster, which would double the chance of a Pacific Island WFTDA nationals (hey, a journalist can dream.)

The WFTDA has also released its full rankings for the first quarter of 2011, with no changes in the top slots for the third quarter in a row. 2010 champs the Rocky Mountain Rollergirls still head up the Western region; 2011 WFTDA championship hosts the Windy City Rollers lead in the North-Central; 2007 champs the Kansas City Roller Warriors continue their resurgence in South-Central; And, even though they have been inactive this quarter, the Gotham Girls Roller Derby remains the beast of the east. The Texecutioners remain second in the south, but big decisions in their May bouts may shake that ranking up for Q2.

Settling an issue that is raised in any all-women's sport, the WFTDA has adopted a new gender policy for chartered team skaters in sanctioned interleague games.

Quick note for you early risers: Derby News Network will be hosting a truly international boutcast on April 30 when they carry a rematch of the finals from Australia's first ever tournament, the 2010 Great Southern Slam. If you are up at 4.30am Central, you can catch the bout here as the Victorian Roller Derby League attempt to repeat their victory over the Sun State Roller Girls. Texas fans better get used to these early starts: The Hotrod Honeys will face Victoria as part of their Australian tour in July.