Sun State Roller Derby Explained

Sun State Roller Derby
Founded:2007
Metro Area:Brisbane, Queensland
Country:Australia
Teams:Swarm (A team)
Defiants
Vandals
Furies
Riots
Tracks:Flat
Venue:Digi Roller Skating Rink, Hillcrest
Affiliations:Skate Australia, WFTDA
Orgtype:Incorporated; Not-for-profit

Sun State Roller Derby is a women's flat track roller derby based in Brisbane, in the Australian state of Queensland.[1] Suns State was established in 2007 and has been a member of the international Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) since 2013.[2]

History

Sun State Roller Derby was founded as Sun State Roller Girls in 2007.[3] [4] In March 2007, the league held a public demonstration bout at Sportsmotion, Slacks Creek, as a recruitment drive. By 2010, membership of the league was over 170.[5]

Sun State has had 3 league splits — with members leaving to form new leagues. Northern Brisbane Rollers (in January 2008[6]), Gold Coast Roller Derby (in October 2008[7]) and Brisbane City Rollers (in January 2009[8]) all formed out of splits from Sun State.

Eight of the league's skaters were members of Team Australia for the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.[9] Team Australia finished 4th overall.[10]

Organisation and governance

Sun State Roller Derby is one of several leagues in the Brisbane area.[11] [12] The league focuses on representing skaters in Beenleigh and Logan.[4] One of the league's organisational missions is to promote the empowerment of women and to improve the health, well being and personal growth of women in the area.[4] The league is only open to female skaters, but males participate in the league in organisational positions.[4]

The league is a volunteer run, not for profit organisation governed by a committee that meets monthly and includes elected positions such as: secretary, treasurer, team representatives and a non-bouting member representative. Several positions are held by appointment, including sponsorship officer, fundraising officer, media officer, head official, non-skating official coordinator and head coach. The Sun State Roller Girls annual general meeting is held in October of each year.[13]

In July 2012, Sun State was accepted as a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Apprentice Programme.[14] Sun State became Australia's second full members of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association in June, 2013.[15]

Interleague competition

2009
In July 2009, Sun State played its first interleague bout against Victorian Roller Derby League("VRDL"). In the first Queensland interleague bout, "South vs North" on 28 November 2009 at the Beenleigh Arena, Sun State defeated Northern Brisbane Rollers ("NBR").[16]

DateWinLoseScore
4 Jul 2009VictoriaSun State117 - 99
28 Nov 2009Sun StateNBR164 - 124

2010
In 2010, the league competed in the Great Southern Slam, Australia's first roller derby tournament. After defeating Woollongong and Townsville/Brisbane City Rollers in the preliminary pool rounds, the Sun State Roller Girls defeated local Brisbane rivals Northern Brisbane Rollers in the quarter-finals. They met and defeated Adelaide Roller Derby in the semi-finals, before losing to the Victorian Roller Derby League in the dying seconds of the grand final.[17] The tournament saw Sun State emerge as the highest ranked team in Queensland.[18]

DateWinLoseScore
12 June 2010Sun StateWoollongong178 - 16
12 June 2010Sun StateTownsville168 - 7
12 June 2010Sun StateNBR184 - 28
13 June 2010Sun StateAdelaide124 - 60
13 June 2010VictoriaSun State78 - 76

2011
In 2011, the league played a number of interleague bouts. The 30 April 2011 re-match between Sun State and Victorian Roller Derby League at the Gold Coast Convention Centre was billed as the derby grudge match of the year in Australia by Skate Australia.[19] Victoria won the game to continue their undefeated record against Sun State.[20] On 6 August 2011, Sun State defeated the Canberra Roller Derby League at the Australian Institute of Sport.[21] [22] After a last minute cancellation from a New Zealand league, the Brisbane City Rollers ("BCR") played Sun State on 27 August at the Beenleigh Arena, with Sun State being victorious. Sun State defeated the Sydney Roller Derby League on 22 October at Sydney Olympic Park.[23]

In November 2011, Sun State competed in and won the inaugural Tropicarnage Cup, a Queensland roller derby tournament which attracted nine teams from across the state.[24] Sun State progressed through their first game against Reef City Roller Girls (Cairns) before playing Townsville Roller Derby in the tournament semi-finals. Sun State defeated Northern Brisbane Rollers in the Tropicarnage Cup final.

In late November 2011, Sun State competed in their first international bout, competing against Rat City Rollergirls from Seattle, Washington, in the first game of a double header played by Rat City against Sun State and Northern Brisbane Rollers.[25] Rat City, unofficially ranked number 5 in the world at the time, strongly defeated Sun State.[26]

DateWinLoseScore
30 April 2011VictoriaSun State124 - 93
6 August 2011Sun StateCanberra181 - 48
27 August 2011Sun StateBCR360 - 26
22 October 2011Sun StateSydney257 - 61
19 November 2011Sun StateReef City195 - 30
19 November 2011Sun StateTownsville204 - 52
20 November 2011Sun StateNBR253 - 44
26 November 2011Rat CitySun State232 - 56

2012
In 2012, the league competed in the second ever Great Southern Slam (TGSS), as well as competing in several other interleague games. The interleague season commenced on 24 March 2012 with a rematch of the 2011 game between Sun State and Canberra Roller Derby League at the Beenleigh Arena, with Sun State again defeating Canberra convincingly.

This was the only interleague activity before TGSS on 9–11 June 2012. On the first day of TGSS, Sun State recorded solid wins over Geelong Roller Derby League and South Seas Roller Derby, advancing to the quarter- and semi-finals held on the second day of the tournament.[27] In the quarter-final, Sun State controlled Sydney Roller Derby League to advance to an afternoon semi-final against the Northern Brisbane Rollers, defeating them in the closest game between the two leagues since 2009 and advancing to the Grand Final against Victorian Roller Derby League.[28] The Grand Final was a hard-fought battle, with Victoria coming out on top, cementing Sun State's rank at second in the nation.[29]

DateWinLoseScore
24 March 2012Sun StateCanberra238 - 98
9 June 2012Sun StateGeelong131 - 62
9 June 2012Sun StateSouth Seas193 - 13
10 June 2012Sun StateSydney195 - 94
10 June 2012Sun StateNBR159 - 110
11 June 2012VictoriaSun State198 - 115

WFTDA competition

In June 2013, Sun State became a full member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), thus making them eligible for WFTDA rankings and Playoffs. Their debut in the rankings came in December 2014 at 20th overall.[30] In 2015, Sun State qualified for Division 1 Playoffs for the first time, entering the Dallas Playoff as the seventh seed and finishing in eighth place.[31] In 2016, Sun State returned to Division 1 Playoffs, entering the Montreal tournament as the eighth seed and finishing the weekend in ninth place.[32] Sun State was eligible for Division 2 in 2017, but declined their invitation to Playoffs.[33] In 2018, Sun State was the sixth seed at the WFTDA Playoffs in Atlanta, and finished the weekend out of the medals with a consolation round victory over Rat City Roller Derby, 250-58.[34]

WFTDA rankings

SeasonFinal ranking[35] PlayoffsChampionship
201420 WFTDAN/AN/A
201523 WFTDA[36] 8 D1DNQ
201626 WFTDA[37] 9 D1DNQ
201722 WFTDA[38] N/ADNP D2
201830 WFTDA[39] CRDNQ

Intraleague competition

2008
Sun State Roller Girls' first season was between two teams: the Golden Roughs ("Roughs") and Liquorice Short Shorts ("Shorties").[40] Three public intraleague games were played in the 2008 season, beginning on 13 September 2008, with the Liquorice Short Shorts winning on all three occasions.

DateWinLoseScore
13 Sep 2008ShortiesRoughs140 - 102
11 Oct 2008ShortiesRoughs100 - 96
8 Nov 2008ShortiesRoughs149 - 119

2009
The Roughs and Shorties met six times in the 2009 season, with the Golden Roughs taking the season title – winning four bouts to two. Audience numbers grew to over 1500 per bout.[41]

DateWinLoseScore
7 Mar 2009RoughsShorties134 - 129
18 Apr 2009RoughsShorties135 - 125
30 May 2009RoughsShorties104 - 100
7 Aug 2009ShortiesRoughs137 - 116
19 Sep 2009ShortiesRoughs144 - 125
31 Oct 2009RoughsShorties139 - 109

2010
2010 was the final season in which the Sun State Roller Girls featured the Golden Roughs and Liquorice Short Shorts teams.[42] Six regular season games were played as well as a grand final on 27 November 2010, with the Roughs again victorious four bouts to three.

DateWinLoseScore
13 Mar 2010ShortiesRoughs119 - 96
24 Apr 2010ShortiesRoughs174 - 76
5 June 2010RoughsShorties92 - 88
21 Aug 2010RoughsShorties99 - 87
18 Sep 2010RoughsShorties130 - 83
30 Oct 2010ShortiesRoughs111 - 101
27 Nov 2010RoughsShorties116 - 111

2011
In 2011 the Sun State Roller Girls dissolved the Golden Roughs and Liquorice Short Shorts, and the skaters were reallocated into three new teams — the Defiants, Vandals and Furies.[42] Six games were played during the intraleague season, with each team playing the other teams twice. The grand final was played on 17 December as a double header bout, with the third place Furies playing Newcastle Roller Derby League before the grand final was played between the Defiants and Vandals. The Furies defeated Newcastle, and the Vandals were crowned the 2011 winners.

DateWinLoseScore
12 Feb 2011DefiantsVandals137 - 87
2 Apr 2011VandalsFuries152 - 48
21 May 2011DefiantsFuries178 - 109
23 Jul 2011VandalsDefiants129 - 101
10 Sep 2011FuriesVandals106 - 52
8 Oct 2011FuriesDefiants132 - 60
17 Dec 2011FuriesNewcastle120 - 58
17 Dec 2011VandalsDefiants149 - 99

2012
In 2012, Sun State added a fourth team to their intraleague competition, the Riots.[43] The season was expanded to 12 games, plus a third place playoff and grand final, to be played throughout 2012.

DateWinLoseScore
19 Feb 2012VandalsDefiants120 - 88
10 Mar 2012RiotsFuries233 - 147
1 Apr 2012DefiantsFuries229 - 126
21 Apr 2012DefiantsVandals170 - 135
13 May 2012FuriesVandals161 - 84
26 May 2012DefiantsRiots130 - 115
24 Jun 2012FuriesRiots138 - 130

Contributions to the community

Sun State Roller Derby is active in the local community. One dollar from each intraleague bout ticket sold goes to a local charity.[44] In 2009, the league was invited to welcome international students to Brisbane at the City Council's 'International Student Day' expo. League members helped run the Dress for Success official name-change fundraiser. The league donated $1000 to Southside Education School For Girls and $5000 to Dress for Success.[45] In 2010, the league held a shoe/handbag/jewellery drive, helped run a fundraising gala for Dress For Success, and raised $250 for The Brain Foundation (on behalf of the Brisbane Zombie Walk[46]) and donated $7500 to Fitted for Work.[45] In 2011, the league organised a group blood donation for the Australian Red Cross, where league members donated blood while wearing the popular Sun State "Give Blood, Play Roller Derby" T-shirt.[47]

Media coverage

Sun State was featured in Roller Derby Dolls, a half-hour documentary by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).[3] [48]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Us. 11 January 2014. Sun State Roller Girls. https://web.archive.org/web/20131231012139/http://www.sunstaterollergirls.com/index.php/about-us. 31 December 2013. dead.
  2. Web site: WFTDA Welcomes First Full Member Leagues in Asia and South America. WFTDA. 25 November 2016. 6 June 2013.
  3. Web site: ROLLER DERBY DOLLS. 24 October 2011. hartflicker moving pictures.
  4. Web site: About Sun State Roller Girls. 25 October 2011. Sun State Roller Girls. 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007062330/http://sunstaterollergirls.com/index.php/roller-derby/about-ssrg. 7 October 2011. dead.
  5. Web site: Beck. Wise. Preview: Great Southern Slam. Derby News Network. 10 June 2010. 25 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101116102959/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2010/06/preview_great_southern_slam. 16 November 2010. dead.
  6. Web site: Northern Brisbane Rollers . Northern Brisbane Rollers . 2011-11-02.
  7. Web site: GCRD Enter . Goldcoastrollerderby.com . 2011-11-02.
  8. Web site: Brisbane City Rollers . Brisbane City Rollers . 2011-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120405224301/http://www.brisbanecityrollers.com/cms/index.php/component/content/article/7-bcr-information/2 . 5 April 2012 . dead .
  9. News: Team Australia Announces World Cup Roster. Derby News Network. 14 September 2011. 24 September 2011. Hurt. Reynolds. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111207023954/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2011/08/team_australia_announces_world_cup_roster. 7 December 2011. dmy-all.
  10. Web site: Team Australia ranked 4th. RollerDerbyAU. 16 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425061401/http://rollerderbyau.net/2011/12/05/day-four-roller-derby-world-cup/. 25 April 2012. dead.
  11. Web site: Northern Brisbane Rollers. Northern Brisbane Rollers. 25 October 2011.
  12. Web site: Brisbane City Rollers. Brisbane City Rollers. 25 October 2011.
  13. Web site: Sun State Roller Girls. 26 October 2011. Our Committee. https://web.archive.org/web/20111007062335/http://sunstaterollergirls.com/index.php/roller-derby/about-ssrg/our-committee. 7 October 2011. dead.
  14. "WFTDA Accepts 35 Apprentice Leagues ", WFTDA, 16 July 2012
  15. Web site: WFTDA Welcomes First Full Member Leagues in Asia and South America - Latest News - Women's Flat Track Derby Association.. WFTDA.com. 6 June 2013. 19 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130702073138/http://www.wftda.com/news/wftda-welcomes-first-full-member-leagues-in-asia-and-south-america. 2 July 2013. dead.
  16. Web site: Bout History . Sunstaterollergirls.com . 2011-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111004164838/http://www.sunstaterollergirls.com/index.php/roller-derby/sun-state-bouts/bout-history . 4 October 2011 . dead .
  17. Beck Wise, "Tournament Recap: The Great Southern Slam ", Derby News Network, 23 June 2010
  18. Web site: SSRG's Defiants Vs Furies. 24 October 2011. Skate Australia.
  19. Web site: Roller Derby Grudge Match of the Year!. Skate Australia.
  20. Web site: SSRG Scores. Roller Derby AU.
  21. Web site: SSRG vs VCR. 27 October 2011.
  22. Web site: Drive time review of SSRG vs VCR. 27 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20121001103242/http://blogs.abc.net.au/canberra/2011/08/roller-derby-vice-city-vs-fancy-pants.html. 1 October 2012. dead.
  23. Web site: Sun State Hits Sydney. Roller Derby AU.
  24. Web site: Tropicarnage Cup. Skate Australia.,
  25. Web site: Rat City's Double Bout in Queensland. Roller Derby AU.,
  26. Web site: Derby News Network Power Rankings - November 2011. Derby News Network. 17 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130204061547/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/power_rankings/2011/11. 4 February 2013. dead.,
  27. News: Beck. Wise. TGSS Day One Recaps. Derby News Network. 9 June 2012. 17 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120615224808/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2012/06/tgss_day_one_recaps. 15 June 2012. dead.
  28. News: Beck. Wise. TGSS Day Two Recaps. Derby News Network. 14 June 2012. 17 July 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120617113659/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2012/06/tgss_day_two_recaps. 17 June 2012. dmy-all.
  29. News: Beck. Wise. TGSS Grand Final: Victoria 198, Sun State 115. Derby News Network. 14 June 2012. 17 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120617113555/http://www.derbynewsnetwork.com/2012/06/tgss_grand_final_victoria_198_sun_state_115. 17 June 2012. dead.
  30. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2015 . 25 November 2016.
  31. Web site: Deadwards. Lisa. 2015 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Dallas. Derby Central. 25 November 2016. 15 September 2015.
  32. Web site: Deadwards. Lisa. 2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Montréal Central. Derby Central. 25 November 2016. 6 September 2016.
  33. Web site: The 2017 WFTDA Playoff Placement Announcement Is Out!. The Apex. 26 August 2017. 14 July 2017.
  34. Web site: 2018 Playoffs Atlanta Game 13: Rat City vs. Sun State – WFTDA . wftda.com . WFTDA . 19 January 2019 . 23 September 2018.
  35. "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  36. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA. wftda.com. January 2016 . 25 November 2016.
  37. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA. wftda.com. 6 January 2017 . WFTDA. 6 January 2017.
  38. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA. wftda.com. 5 January 2018 . WFTDA. 5 January 2018.
  39. Web site: Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA . wftda.com . 7 January 2019 . WFTDA . 19 January 2019.
  40. Web site: Stormin' roller derby girls. Quest newspaper. 13 November 2008. 27 November 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120418220953/http://quest-news.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/stormin-roller-derby-girls/. 18 April 2012. dead.
  41. Web site: Sun state roller derby presents. see toowoomba. 2 November 2011.
  42. Web site: Teams . Sunstaterollergirls.com . 2011-11-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111004164720/http://www.sunstaterollergirls.com/index.php/teams . 4 October 2011 . dead .
  43. Web site: Introducing the Riots . Sunstaterollergirls.com . 2012-01-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120402115309/http://sunstaterollergirls.com/index.php/news-and-events/116-introducing-the-riots . 2 April 2012 . dead .
  44. Web site: Sun State Roller Girls « Inter Derby . Interderby.wordpress.com . 2008-09-18 . 2011-11-02.
  45. Web site: Archived copy . 26 October 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425091714/http://www.suitedtosuccess.org/sites/default/files/2010_Annual_Report_FINAL.pdf . 25 April 2012 . dead .
  46. Web site: Brisbane Zombie Walk statement for 2010. Brisbane Zombie Walk. 27 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425111950/http://www.brisbanezombiewalk.com/2010/. 25 April 2012. dead.
  47. Albert and Logan Times . 7 October 2011 . Logan, Australia . Quest Newspapers . Roller Girls support a bloody good cause.
  48. Web site: Roller Derby Dolls. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 24 October 2011.

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