Fierce girls are looking for some 'fresh meat'
Jenness Mitchell • Published 12 Jan 2012 08:00
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FIERCE Valley Roller Girls (FVRG) are holding their first 'Fresh Meat' session of 2012 next month.
Local ladies over 18 who fancy strapping on a set of skates and partaking in a spot of roller derby can do so in this friendly taster. Experience isn't necessary - just a willingness to learn and have fun.
The full-contact sport is played by people of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds.
Although not for the fainthearted as it consists of two teams of women-on-wheels bashing their way around an indoor track to score points, this introductory session is to give those interested a chance to see what it takes to become a roller girl, learn the basic skills, meet the skaters in the league, and hear more about the sport.
During Fresh Meat newbies will be buddied up with an experienced skater to learn from them and to share their skates and safety equipment.
FVRG formed in November 2010 and is Scotland's sixth female roller derby league. Within FVRG there is one competing ('bouting') team - the Parma Violents - exclusively for skaters who have passed a physical minimum skills and written rules test as set out by the WFTDA who govern the sport.
Fiona 'Lady Feerocious' McCartney, who attended her first Fresh Meat in May 2011 and has since fallen in love with it, encourages all those intrigued to give it a try.
The former Abercromby Primary School and Lornshill Academy pupil said, "I'd never played a team sport before and found the thought of being in an all-female team quite daunting, but I'm so glad I went along.
"I've made so many new friends both in our league and also in the other Scottish leagues.
"There's a real sense of community about the sport and we all help each other out where we can - whether it be to promote a fundraiser they're holding or go along to support them when they play."
The 27-year-old feels that derby is the perfect way to combine strength and agility, adding, "Not all of our members had skated before, and most wouldn't claim to be super athletic - it really is a sport for any woman with passion.
After a couple of training sessions we see huge improvements not just in the ability of our skaters, but also in their confidence, which is amazing."
The first ever Roller Derby World Cup was held in Toronto in December 2011 and due to the huge response it received there is a European cup scheduled for autumn in Sweden.
Fiona said, "Team Scotland were competing in the World Cup, so some of our Scottish skaters actually made the trip to Toronto and I expect many more will be booking flights to Malmo soon - including myself, Rufi-Ohh and Fun Ghoul from FVRG.
"I think that highlights just how much it means to us to watch the best European skaters, support them, and learn from them."
Fierce Valley Roller Girls train on Tuesday and Friday nights at Grangemouth Sports Complex and Sunday mornings in Bo'ness Recreation Centre - the three sessions split into beginners and intermediates, intermediates and advanced, and advanced.
The next Fresh Meat session will take place on Sunday 19 February, at 11am. Wear something comfortable, take plenty of water and your own mouthguard for safety and hygiene.
For more information on the league and how to join, go to www.fvrg.co.uk or email fvrg@hotmail.co.uk.
Photographs courtesy of Claire Brunton, of Zenspirations Photography.
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 11 Jan 12
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