Roller derby players Jo Muller (Raykee), Lee Pike (Eris Dueller), Paige Womble (Unicorn Spawn) and Felicity Townsend (Mollie Tov).
Camera IconRoller derby players Jo Muller (Raykee), Lee Pike (Eris Dueller), Paige Womble (Unicorn Spawn) and Felicity Townsend (Mollie Tov). Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Women’s roller derby fun for all ages and abilities

Stuart HortonWeekend Kwinana Courier

But roller derby attracts women of all ages and appearances: from tattoo-sporting 18-year-olds to women in their 50s.

The Dread Pirate Rollers is the Kwinana and Rockingham area’s only roller team, and team member and club marketing co-ordinator Melissa Rayner – or Mel Bent, to give her her derby name – said though the sport could be brutal, “bruises are enjoyable”.

The club also caters for all types, with members aged between 18 and 49, some with tattoos and piercings, and plenty without.

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“We cater for all types – body types, skating abilities, personalities – everyone is welcome,” she said.

“We’re like any other sporting club, we have our own community and everyone is nice and wants to be involved and keep others involved.

“Maybe some people expect us to be full of tattooed, scary- looking woman, and yes we have those, but we’re all normal people and are all there for the same reason – and that’s to have fun and get some fitness.

“Half the fun is actually creating the persona you take out to the ring with you – the name you’ll go by, the look you want. You can be who you want to be.”

Among the club’s current members are Mollie Tov, Eris Dueller, Raykee and Unicorn Spawn.

The club is hosting its first match locally tomorrow night, offering locals a glimpse into what the sport entails and hopeful of putting on a good show for those in attendance, or those who might be curious about the sport.

“We’ve had a team for a while, but we didn’t have a local venue for bouts; we were playing home games in Armadale,” Rayner said.

“It’s exciting that we will be putting on a show for people who live locally and can see what we’re about.”