It’s official: the new, reshuffled Home Teams rosters for the 2014 Home Season have been announced.

As with the last two Home Seasons, we have new faces and veteran skaters in the mix so it’s shaping up to be a great new season for the The Cherry Bombers, Leithal Weapons and The SkateFast Club. Head over to the teams’ pages to find who’s in which team.

For ARRG Home Season is a massive training event for fresh skaters as well as veteran skaters that is opened to the public. We introduce the new faces to the public while at the same time practising to play alongside each other by playing against each other. Essentially Home Season trains new skaters to progress onto the Cannon Belles and eventually onto the Twisted Thistles. Come and witness the evolution of skaters from the beginning.

Our third Home Season promises to be even more exciting than the previous ones and will be kicking off in January, so keep your eyes peeled for further exciting home league announcements. Of course there will be Season Tickets for all four bouts available again, and maybe even one or four chances to win some free tickets!

During the past two years, Captain CrazyLegs has led the Twisted Thistles from strength to strength. From their first bouts under her guidance to their epic winning streak that began in America and is still going strong, Crazy and Vice Captain Ciderella have been guiding ARRG in their exploits.

 

But, at the AGM on Sept 16^th, CrazyLegs officially stepped down after two years of captaincy of the Twisted Thistles.

Crazylegs: “I had the best time ever being Captain – So many firsts!! WFTDA Track Queens tournament, playing Brawling (twice!), Anarchy III, The first UKRDA sanctioned game with GRD, and of course ECDX!! !  The Thistles are an amazing team, not just for being good on track but for being weird and funny yet seriously dedicated too.  I love them all and I’m grateful for their trust and support in my decisions for so long, we definitely achieved what we set out to!  I’m so excited to see where Cider & Stitches lead us next!”

 

Ciderella was elected as the new captain and Lilo and Stitches was elected as the new Vice Captain.

Ciderella has been with ARRG since day one and plays a vital part as blocker and pivot (and sometimes jammer).

Crazylegs: “On a personal note I’m so happy to see Cider take on the C, it’s a natural progression for her after being such a brilliant, funny, tactical genius Vice Captain – she knows the team inside out and has great insight. I can’t wait to see her spreading her wings. I’m very proud of her.”

Stitches has been with the Thistles for a year and is best known for her killer jamming moves.

Ciderella:  “The Thistles’ journey over the last two years has been incredible and I am looking forward to the challenge of taking us even further. I can’t wait to work with Stitches and the rest of the WFTDA skaters! We are going to achieve so much!”

They will be awesome.

 

On March 8th, our very own Crazylegs spoke at the TEDx Conference in Huddersfield. TEDx Huddersfield was a conference that coincided with International Women’s Day and the theme for this event was, aptly, ‘Inspiring Women’.

Lianne ‘Crazylegs’ Parry has been playing the sport of Roller Derby with the ‘Auld Reekie Roller Girls’ (ARRG) since their inception in Edinburgh, in 2008. Currently Captain of their first travel team the ‘Twisted Thistles’, Lianne has played in over 50 Roller Derby bouts and represented Scotland at the inaugural Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto in 2011. Alongside her team-mates, Lianne has played a pivotal role in ARRG’s growth and development, at times spending upwards of 20 hours a week organizing and advocating for ARRG and Roller Derby at both national and international level.

On June 28-30th, the Twisted Thistles went to Philadelphia to take part in the East Coast Derby Extravaganza, where they joined the Glasgow Roller Girls in representing Scotland in this major American tournament.

Be sure to stay up to date with ARRG happenings, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@AuldReekieRG) for all the upcoming news and ways that you can get involved (like shopping for ARRG, joining a Fresh Meat Programme, being a NSO and more).

Home Team Affiliation: Well for the past two years I have played for the Leithal Weapons, and I have taken great pride in wearing blue, but this year I am just as excited to get a brand new team colour and start the fun all over again! The home season is not about winning or losing, it is about watching new skaters grow and develop their skills in a game situation… the pride you feel for every new skater is overwhelming!

Joined ARRG in: Eh… 2011? Is is really bad that I don’t know!? I do know that joining ARRG changed my life; I have never met a more amazing group of women (and refs) and have never felt so accepted.

Favourite position to play: I really like to block and I am never happier than being in a tight wall, holding the jammer back until she wants to give up… I love the feeling of working together on track and using each other’s skills for maximum impact! Plus… I really like hitting people (sorry mom).

Best ARRG memory: There are millions of amazing ARRG moments and listing them would take weeks… The things that means the most to me are the friendships that have come out of this wonderful derby roller coaster ride, so many people that are now part of my life and push me to be a better skater.

Favourite after skate drink/snack: Ok, if I wanted to be all sporty I would say I eat super healthy post skate… BUT after practice I eat Doritos and drink 7-up… and after a game I eat whatever gluten free treats Connie has set aside for me… followed by tequila. ATHLETE!!!

Worst Derby injury: Ugh. I have had a ton of annoying derby injuries… my knees give me the most trouble, but I have had a black eye, cracked rib, torn ligaments in my feet, sprained thumb, and both knees have forced me off skates for months of rehab… BUT I love derby, so nothing will stop me from trying again!

Best Derby advice: Don’t compare yourself to others (yeah right) and remember that every single person has a different derby journey; it may take you two years to play on the travel teams, but only six months for your pal… you may have setbacks, you may have doubts, you may just want to give up… just keep skating! Your journey will be full of amazing highs and devastating lows… it is worth it!

Any funny/embarrassing derby stories? For the first 4 games I was in, nearly every photo was me on the floor… rolling around… looking ridiculous… but they never show how fast I get up! =P

Derby Hero: I am not a derby stalker; I don’t know who half of the skaters are when people talk about their favourites… I feel a ridiculous amount of pride for all the Auld Reekie Girls around me, for all they do for the league, for all they give up for the love of the sport… one hero? Impossible.

What do you do outside of derby: I am a Veterinary Nurse during the day, a job that I find both really wonderful and heartbreaking… every day is different and I have never wished for a different path.

Favourite film of all time: I love like millions of films… and I am very indecisive! My mood swings change my favourites from day to day… but I always return to the same half dozen 😉