Squads get their skates on for EuroClash
ROLLER DERBY
NEWCASTLE Roller Girls are to host EuroClash 2018 – an international roller derby tournament featuring teams from the UK, Europe and the USA.
The nine teams competing at the city’s Walker Activity Dome on May 19 20 are Auld Reekie Roller Girls (Scotland), Dock City Rollers (Sweden), Steel City Roller Derby (USA), Tiger Bay Brawlers (Wales) and Birmingham Blitz Dames, Central City Rollergirls, Middlesbrough Roller Derby and Newcastle Roller Girls (England).
EuroClash is part of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association-recognised tournament programme.
All nine participating teams are very closely ranked – only one place separates them in the case of Auld Reekie (87) and Birmingham Blitz Dames (88) and Central City (94) and Steel City (95) – with some teams playing each other here for the first time.
Dublin Roller Derby are the top-ranked team in the tournament at 46 after a strong show in 2017, including qualifying for the WFTDA Division Two play-offs for the first time – where they won three of their five games.
A Newcastle Roller Girls spokeswoman said: “Last year we hosted EuroClash for the first time so we are really excited to put on a whole weekend of highlevel international games again this year – including teams who don’t often play in the UK.
“We hope the whole roller derby community will get behind us again to help to make the 2018 tournament a success.”
Tickets are now on sale at www.euro-clash.com. ■■WATCH out for a feature on EuroClash in Grassroots Sport.