New Orleans' Vargas Grrl: Rolling in the zeebah stripes Credit: photo by Chelsea Stark

The last gaps in the Texas Rollergirls‘ 2008 season have been filled, with the announcement of the last two visiting teams.

On June 1, the Hotrod Honeys will take on New Orleans’ Big Easy Rollergirls, currently standing No. 37 in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association rankings. Then, in the last bout of the season before the August 3 championship, on July 6 the Hell Marys will play host to the Arkansas Killbillies, the touring team for the NWA Rollergirls from Springdale, Arkansas (currently ranked No. 33.) And yeah, the TXRG league teams are facing touring teams.

And speaking of New Orleans’ finest, former Austin Chronicle contributor and intern Meredith Barnhill is now rollin’ with the BERG. Last Thursday, she passed the league’s written test with a 95% (WFTDA rules only require that a “skater must demonstrate knowledge of current rules”). Going under the track name Vargas Grrl, she rolled out for this weekend’s bout (StoryVillains vs. Confederacy of Punches and Crescent Wenches vs. Marigny Antoinettes), serving as outside pack ref for three out of four periods and jammer auditor for one.

This article appears in April 18 • 2008.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.