Rumble Bees a fierce force
Taranaki’s roller derby Rumble Bees are a brutal force to be reckoned with on the rink.
They hit top 10 status in their national league and are hungry to leave rival roller derby damsels in distress, to get to the top this season.
The Taranaki Roller Corps team competes for the districts women’s roller derby league. Based at the East End Rink, they get mates-rates for being the official offshoot of the New Plymouth Roller Sports Club.
With home and away games lined up, the squad of 25 women - and one boy have begun their intense training regime.
In the real world Kerrie Wootton is a corporate marketing manager, but in the rink her alter ego Zombie Ablockahips kicks in. Wootton said the beauty about roller derby and her league is, it’s an allinclusive sport and everyone is welcome.
‘‘Any preconceptions of body image are left at home. You can be any gender, have any body shape, any level of fitness, and the majority of us are 40 plus.’’
Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-body contact team sport where two squads of five go head-to-head on quad skates around the track in the same direction.
Their goal for each bout of two halves is for their jammer to lap members of the opposition to score points, while blockers work as one to form a moving human gauntlet against their rivals to prevent them from doing the same.
Once that whistle blows it’s no holds barred - except for extreme foul play such as elbows and head butting. However, nowadays, they prefer to use their heads for better things, such as strategising before a big bout.
Head coach Chrissi Phillips-Ryburn, aka Whakintawh@40plus, said contrary to popular belief it was not all smash and run.
‘‘It’s not so much about laying out those big hits and screaming at each other, now it’s team work, technique, strategy, fitness and skill.’’
Whakintawh@40plus said her girls have a sisterhood and a genuine comradeship.
Altitude of Attitude 666, aka, Lisa McGrory said they had a truckload of travelling in store, with North and South Island games. TRC’s first fundraiser was The 50 Shades Darker Masquerade night supported by its major sponsor Crowded House bar and cafe.