| Bristol Roller Derby | |
| Founded: | 2010 |
| Metro Area: | Bristol |
| Country: | England |
| Teams: | Bristol Roller Derby A (Women's) Bristol Roller Derby B (Women's) Bristol Roller Derby Men's Team Vice Quad Bristol Roller Derby Allstars (Co-ed team) |
| Tracks: | Flat |
| Venue: | Merchants Academy Bristol |
Bristol Roller Derby (BRD) is a roller derby league based in Bristol. Founded in 2010, the league consists of two women's roller derby teams, a men's team, a Co-Ed team and a fledgling juniors team.[1]
The league was founded early in 2010 by Tuisku Sarrala, Anna Wong, Laura Phillips, Laura Lopez, Maria Cormack, Simone Bennett and Verona. Anna Wong, who had previously played the sport in New Zealand, became the league's head coach for the inaugural year, before returning to New Zealand in January 2011.[2] Originally known as the Bristol Harbour Harlots,[3] that title is now reserved for its travel team. By mid-2011, the league had more than seventy skaters, and had hosted a sell-out bout.[4] [5]
One of the league's founder members, Tuisku Sarrala (derby name The Blizzard), competed for Team Finland at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.[6] [7] [8]
On 1 November 2012, Bristol Roller Derby merged with another local roller derby team, Anarchic Die Hard Derby (ADHD).[9] ADHD's founders were skaters who were unable to join Bristol Roller Derby during a period in which Bristol's recruitment was closed. Following the merger, ADHD became Bristol's fourth home team, bringing the number of active skaters to over 50. Together with officials, the Fresh Meat intake of October 2012, and non-skating members, the league membership stood at over 100 members at the beginning of November 2012.
In December 2012, the league was accepted as a member of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association.[10]
In 2016, they were discussed in an article on bears associated with Bristol, in which members Grizzly and Bear Thrylls featured.[11]
The league has four women's home teams:
"Drop In Derby" sessions are run for anyone over 11 wanting to skate or learn roller derby.[17] Unlike other training sessions organised by the league, attendees do not have to be a member of the club to participate. There are no attendance requirements or prior skating skills required.
In 2016 both the women's A team and the men's team achieved promotion in the British Championships tournament, the men into tier 3 and the women into premier tier 1.
Their 2017 season was featured in the local press.[18]
On 16 September 2018, the Co-Ed All-Stars beat the North Wales Men's team to gain promotion into Tier 2 of the British Championships. This game was streamed on BBC Sport, a first for the team.
The table below lists the bouts played by the Bristol Roller Derby's travel teams – the Harbour Harlots
| Date | Event | Home/Away | Team | Opponent | Results | Won by | Venue |
| 11 December 2010 | Tinsel and Torture | Away | Harbour Harlots | Severn Roller Torrent | 138–60 | SRT | |
| 15 January 2011 | Star Check : First Contact | Away | Harbour Harlots | Tiger Bay Brawlers | 173–37 | TBB | |
| 9 July 2011 | Painspotting | Home | Harbour Harlots | Severn Roller Torrent | 195–91 | BHH | UWE Sports Centre |
| 13 November 2011 | Away | Harbour Harlots | Croydon Roller Derby | 123–117 | CRD | ||
| 26 November 2011 | Away | Harbour Harlots | Cardiff Roller Collective Rude Birds | 134–125 | CRoC | ||
| 4 December 2011 | I love Block'n'Roll | Home | Harbour Harlots | South West Angels of Terror: A Team | 167–107 | SWAT | WISE |
| 2 June 2012 | Hell and High Water | Away | Harbour Harlots | Nottingham Hellfire Harlots | 203–118 | NHH | |
| 9 June 2012 | Grime and Punishment | Home | Harbour Harlots | Swansea City Slayers | 276–46 | BHH | WISE |
| 16 June 2012 | Helter Skelter Belter | Away | Harbour Harlots | Seaside Siren Roller Girls Coastbusters (A team) | 193–43 | BHH | |
| 8 September 2012 | Central City Rollergirls: Double Header | Away | Harbour Harlots (A) | Central City Rollergirls Slay Belles (B team) | 24–211 | BHH | Doug Ellis Sports Centre |
| 14 October 2012 | October Double Header | Home | Harbour Harlots (B) | Wiltshire Roller Derby | 217–130 | BHHb | WISE |
| 14 October 2012 | October Double Header | Home | Harbour Harlots (A) | Croydon Roller Derby | 207–138 | BHHa | WISE |
| 3 November 2012 | Away | Harbour Harlots (A) | Birmingham Blitz Dames A team | 171–185 | BHHa | Futsal, Birmingham | |
| 11 November 2012 | Away | Harbour Harlots (B) | Norfolk Brawds | 153–224 | BHHb | ||
| 2 December 2012 | Home | Harbour Harlots (A) | Rain City Roller Derby - Tender Hooligans | ||||
| 2 December 2012 | Home | Harbour Harlots (B) | Wolverhampton Honour Rollers | ||||
| 26 January 2013 | Away | Harbour Harlots (A) | Dolly Rockit Rollers | 116–237 | BHHa | Midlands Roller Arena | |
| 2 March 2013 | Home | Harbour Harlots (A) | Leeds Roller Dolls - Whip-Its | 245-91 | BHHa | ||
| 2 March 2013 | Home | Harbour Harlots (B) | Mean Valley Rollergirls | 162-227 | WISE | ||
| 23 March 2013 | Away | Harbour Harlots (A) | Big Bucks High Rollers | 132-184 | BHHa | ||
| 13 April 2013 | Away | Harbour Harlots (B) | Royal Windsor Rollergirls | 204-131 | RWRG | ||
| 21 April 2013 | Away | Harbour Harlots (A) | Lincolnshire Bombers Bombshell Bruisers | 171-193 | BHHa | ||
| 21 April 2013 | Away | Harbour Harlots (B) | Lincolnshire Bombers Damebusters | 148-128 | |||