Christchurch to Host and Defend their Title as NZ’s Top Roller Derby Team

Christchurch’s’ Dead End Derby league boasts two nationally ranked teams, their All-Stars won last year’s tournament and their Living Dead Rollers are currently ranked 11th in NZ. They are top of their game and roll under the radar in terms of their achievements.

This year, Dead End Derby has taken on the additional challenge of organising the New Zealand Top Ten Tournament in Christchurch for the first time (Cowles Stadium). The tournament takes place this weekend Saturday 13th - Sunday 14th October. The tournament starts off as round-robin style pool play, with the top ten roller derby teams in New Zealand, battling it out to make it to the finals.

According to All Stars player and DED coach, Laurie Brunot aka Razzmatazz;
"This is a massive tournament with 10 teams coming from across New Zealand. This will give us the experience to organise more tournaments in the future and maybe an international tournament. We want Christchurch to become the capital of skating in New Zealand. After we won the Top 10 Title last year, we became number one in New Zealand. Organising the Top 10 Champs means that we get to defend and hopefully retain the title in front of our family, friends and supporters."

What is Roller Derby?
Roller derby is one of the world’s fastest growing sports. It is more popular in New Zealand than in any other country with 29 leagues. It’s fast paced, high intensity, adrenaline pumping, edge of your seat thrills combined with the grace, skill and power of high-class athletes. Roller derby is a contact sport (think every bit as hard-hitting as rugby except played on quad skates at speed by women). It is played by two teams of 5 players in a game of two 30-minute halves. A designated jammer from each team has to race through the pack and score points by lapping members of the opposing team. The game is made up of small jams which can run for up to 2 minutes, so players need to be able to use speed, offence and defence tactics in order to win. For a great online video of the basics of Roller Derby see this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbMFy2r-Mb0

Who are Dead End Derby? http://deadendderby.org
Dead End Derby have been on the Christchurch scene since 2007, as a skater owned and operated, non-profit league. They are a member of Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), which is the international governing body for roller derby. Dead End Derby is also extremely proud of their two skaters that have competed in the Roller Derby World Cup 2018 in Manchester, England, as part of Team Aotearoa. This competitive league, both nationally and internationally, is made up of women between 18 and 50+ who come from a variety of backgrounds, such as Teachers, Medical Professionals, Librarians, Students, Chefs, Mothers, Labourers and everything in between. There is also a low contact recreation team, the Undead Unicorns for women and a junior team for kids aged 8-17 with plans afoot to start a baby junior team for 4-7 year olds next season. They also have a large base of volunteers, such as referees and non-skating officials, without them would make it difficult for Dead End Derby as a league to exist. There really is a role or place for everyone who want to skate at any level.

In a nutshell - Christchurch’s Dead End Derby is the best local sports team that you probably haven’t heard of, winners of the national league last year and all they are asking for is that the local Christchurch community come to Cowles Stadium this coming weekend and support them in what is going to be a fun, action-packed two day event.

When
• 13th & 14th October (Sat & Sun)
• Sat – Doors open 8.30am – Games start 9am-7pm (inclusive)
• Sun -Doors Open 7.30am – Games start 8am-4pm (inclusive)

Where
• Cowles Stadium Christchurch

Tickets
• Available through Eventfinder.co.nz / at the door

Facebook
• Dead End Derby Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/deadendderby/
• Top 10 Champs Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/events/1906630286307077/

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