Rainy City Roller Derby

Rainy City Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaManchester
CountryUnited Kingdom
Founded2008
TeamsRainy City All Stars (A team)
Tender Hooligans (B team)
Revolution (C team)
Rising (D team)
Track type(s)Flat
VenueSalford University Sports Centre
AffiliationsWFTDA
Websiterainycityrollerderby.com

Rainy City Roller Derby (RCRD) is a flat track roller derby league based in Oldham, England. Founded as Rainy City Roller Girls in 2008, the league consists of four adult teams,[1] which compete against teams from other leagues, and a junior roller derby team, Rainy City Juniors.[2]

Rainy City is a member of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA)[3] and the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA),[4] and served as the host league for the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup.[5]

League History

[edit]

The first league in North West England,[6] Rainy City played their first home bout in November 2009, against Leeds Roller Dolls.[7] In September 2011 they opened the "Thunderdome",[8][9] their own training and bouting venue, in a former snooker hall in Oldham which they renovated and made into the 'Bouting venue of the North'.[6][10]

Former Rainy City logo

In March 2012, the league joined the UK Roller Derby Association.[11] They were accepted to the WFTDA Apprentice Program in July 2012,[12] and became a full WFTDA member in September 2013.[13]

Rainy City Roller Girls rebranded as Rainy City Roller Derby in 2016, and published their own guide on rebranding an established league.[14][15] In December 2016, it was announced that Rainy City would host the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup, at the EventCity facility in Manchester.[16][17]

League structure

[edit]

Travel teams

[edit]

The league has four travel teams:

  • Rainy City All Stars (A).[18]
  • Tender Hooligans (B, formed 2010)[19]
  • Rainy City Revolution (C, formed 2013)[20]
  • Rainy City Rising (D, formed 2018)[21]

Officiating crew

[edit]

Rainy City have a well-established skating and non-skating officiating crew.[22]

Pretty Miffed, the league's Head NSO and WFTDA-certified Level 3 Non-Skating Official (NSO), was on the roster of Officials for the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup.[23] Emily of the State and Yvel Saint Laurent (WFTDA level 2 NSOs), were also on the roster.[24][25]

National Team Representation

[edit]

League member Missy Rascal was vice-captain for the Team England squad for the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup in Toronto[26] alongside Rainy City team-mate Dee-Mise.[27]

For the 2014 Roller Derby World Cup in Dallas, Missy Rascal returned to the Team England roster, this time joined by RCRD skater Fay Roberts.[28][29]

Rainy City hosted the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup and their skaters were dominant in the Team England roster, with the return of Missy Rascal and Fay Roberts who were joined by first-timer world cup skaters Alex Valentine, Alex Wilde, Menace and Philly.[30][31] Fayetal Blonde and Fisher were in the England training squad.[32] Rainy City were additionally represented by Mattie and Perra Peligro skating for Team Spain,[33][34] and Dana Scurry for Team Ireland.[35]

WFTDA competition

[edit]

Rainy City played their first WFTDA-sanctioned game in October 2013 against Glasgow Roller Derby.[36] At the WFTDA European Tournament (WET) in Malmö, Sweden, in November 2014, Rainy City went 2-1 with victories over Copenhagen Roller Derby and Oslo Roller Derby, followed by a narrow loss to Bear City Roller Derby.[36]

In 2016, Rainy City qualified for WFTDA Playoffs for the first time, making the Division 1 tournament at Columbia, South Carolina as the seventh seed.[37] During the weekend Rainy City went 2-2 with victories over Steel City Roller Derby (Pittsburgh) and Santa Cruz Derby Girls,[38][39] and losses to Jacksonville RollerGirls and Crime City Rollers (Malmö),[40][41] to finish the weekend in 6th place.[37][42]

At the 2017 Division 1 Playoff in Malmö, Rainy City won their opening game against Calgary Roller Derby Association 324-81,[43] but then narrowly lost their quarter final to London Rollergirls, 124-199, to miss Championships.[44] Rainy City ended their weekend with a 258-78 consolation bracket win against Charm City Roller Girls.[45][46]

In 2018, Rainy City qualified for WFTDA Playoffs in A Coruña, Spain where they finished in fourth place with a 174-146 loss to Angel City Derby.[47]

The following year, they made it to the 2019 International WFTDA Playoffs in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They faced up to Helsinki Roller Derby first, winning 145-126, before losing to Angel City Derby 106-162. They beat 2×4 Roller Derby 172-109, leaving them in fourth place.[48]

WFTDA rankings

[edit]
Season Final ranking[49] Playoffs Championship
2013 166 WFTDA[50] N/A N/A
2014 121 WFTDA[51] DNQ DNQ
2015 99 WFTDA[52] DNQ DNQ
2016 21 WFTDA[53] 6 D1[37] DNQ
2017 11 WFTDA[54] 6 CR D1[45] DNQ
2018 13 WFTDA[55] 4[47] DNQ
2019 11 WFTDA[56] 4[48] DNQ
2020 10 WFTDA[57] - -

*Please note that rankings were suspended in March 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.[58]

  • CR = consolation round

European competition

[edit]

In 2013, Rainy City came first at the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association's "Sur5al" event, Tattoo Freeze 2013.[59]

In 2018, Rainy City won the first EuroCup competition, which they hosted in Trafford, Greater Manchester.[60] The four other WFTDA D1 European opponents were Crime City Rollers, Helsinki Roller Derby, Stockholm Roller Derby and Kallio Rolling Rainbow.

In 2019 Rainy City hosted the event once again, this time in Bury, Greater Manchester. Crime City Rollers, London Roller Derby's B team London Brawling, Helsinki Roller Derby, Auld Reekie Roller Derby, Stockholm Roller Derby and Tiger Bay Brawlers all took part. RCRD came second, behind Malmö's Crime City Rollers.[61]

European rankings

[edit]

2012 European rankings[62]

[edit]
  • Rainy City Roller Girls (A team), finished division 1, 9th (out of 13 teams)
  • Tender Hooligans (B team), finished division 2, 37th (out of 39 teams)

2011 European rankings[63]

[edit]
  • Rainy City Roller Girls (A team), finished division 1, 7th (out of 10 teams)
  • Tender Hooligans (B team), finished division 2, 25th (out of 26 teams)

2010 European rankings[64]

[edit]
  • Rainy City Roller Girls (A team), finished division 1, 3rd (out of 10 teams)
  • Tender Hooligans (B team), finished division 2, 12th (out of 16 teams)

2009 European rankings[65]

[edit]
  • Rainy City Roller Girls (A team), finished division 1, 9th (out of 10 teams)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Teams". Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Join Rainy City Juniors". Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Member Leagues – United Kingdom Roller Derby Association". ukrda.org.uk. UKRDA. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Rainy City Roller Derby – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  5. ^ "2018 Roller Derby World Cup Announced! – Roller Derby World Cup". Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b Beatriz Ayala, "Girls get skates on for life at Riley's", Oldham Chronicle, 14 September 2011
  7. ^ "Skater girls get rough on the rink". Manchester Evening News. 25 November 2009. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  8. ^ "RCRG, Thunderdome Archived 2013-05-02 at the Wayback Machine" RCRG, location of the Thunderdome
  9. ^ Phillips, Hannah (16 August 2013). "Rainy City Roller Girls receive grant for The Thunderdome". Manchester Wire. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  10. ^ "RCRG, renovations Archived 2012-08-14 at the Wayback Machine" Renovating the Thunderdome
  11. ^ "Welcome to Rainy City Roller Girls", UKRDA, 12 March 2012
  12. ^ "WFTDA Accepts 35 Apprentice Leagues Archived 2014-09-29 at the Wayback Machine", WFTDA, 16 July 2012
  13. ^ "WFTDA Welcomes 14 Full Member Leagues". WFTDA. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  14. ^ Deadwards, Lisa (27 July 2016). "New to 2016 WFTDA Playoffs: Rainy City Roller Derby | Derby Central". Derby Central. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  15. ^ "How to rebrand a roller derby league | Rainy City Roller Derby". rainycityrollerderby.com. Rainy City Roller Derby. March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  16. ^ "2018 Roller Derby World Cup Announced! | Roller Derby World Cup". Roller Derby World Cup. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  17. ^ Deadwards, Lisa (5 December 2016). "2018 Roller Derby World Cup Announcement". Derby Central. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  18. ^ "RCRD, Rainy City All Stars", RCRD, Travel team
  19. ^ "Tender Hooligans", RCRD, Tender Hooligans
  20. ^ "RCRD, The Bet Lynch Mob", RCRD, The Bet Lynch Mob
  21. ^ "Rainy City Rising | Rainy City Roller Derby". 13 November 2018. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Officials | Rainy City Roller Derby". 16 January 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Roster of Certified Officials » WFTDA Roller Derby Resources". WFTDA Roller Derby Resources. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Announcing Officials for the Roller Derby World Cup – Roller Derby World Cup". Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Roster of Certified Officials » WFTDA Roller Derby Resources". WFTDA Roller Derby Resources. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Team England 2011 World Cup Roster". Derby News Network. 10 August 2011. Archived from the original on 13 October 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  27. ^ Mercy, Less (10 August 2011). "Team England 2011 World Cup Roster". Derby News Network. Archived from the original on 7 September 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  28. ^ "Team England Announce 2014 Roster | Derby News Network". 18 July 2014. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  29. ^ Talionis, Lex (4 October 2016). "Team England Training Roster Announced | Scottish Roller Derby". Derby News Network. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  30. ^ "England Roller Derby". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  31. ^ "England call for our roller girls". www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  32. ^ "England Roller Derby". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  33. ^ "Roller Derby World Cup Live". Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  35. ^ "2016 Training Squad | Team Ireland Roller Derby". 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  36. ^ a b Deadwards, Lisa (18 November 2014). "WFTDA European Tournament (WET) Recap | Derby Central". Derby Central. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  37. ^ a b c Deadwards, Lisa (12 September 2016). "2016 WFTDA D1 Playoffs: Columbia Central". Derby Central. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  38. ^ Abby, Hammer (9 September 2016). "D1C: #7 Rainy City corrodes #10 Steel City, 175-93". Derby Central. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  39. ^ Defiance, Brooklyn (10 September 2016). "D1C: #7 Rainy City washes away #6 Santa Cruz, 166-104". Derby Central. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  40. ^ "D1C: #2 Jacksonville outweathers #7 Rainy, 214-96". Derby Central. 9 September 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  41. ^ Abby, Hammer (11 September 2016). "D1C: #5 Crime City washes out #7 Rainy City, 142-112". Derby Central. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  42. ^ "Columbia". WFTDA. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  43. ^ Khaos, Merry (8 September 2017). "D1M: #6 Rainy City soaks #11 Calgary, 324-81 | Derby Central". Derby Central. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  44. ^ Defiance, Brooklyn (9 September 2017). "D1M: #3 London squeezes past #6 Rainy City, 124-119 | Derby Central". Derby Central. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  45. ^ a b Berrick, Genevieve D (10 September 2017). "D1M: #6 Rainy City slays #12 Charm City, 258-78 | Derby Central". Derby Central. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  46. ^ "Malmö". WFTDA. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  47. ^ a b "2018 Playoffs A Coruña Game 15, Third Place Game: Rainy City vs. Angel City – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 2 September 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  48. ^ a b "2019 International WFTDA Playoffs: Winston-Salem". WFTDA. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  49. ^ "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  50. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2013 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2014. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  51. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2014 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. January 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  52. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2015 – WFTDA". wftda.com. January 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  53. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  54. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2017 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 5 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  55. ^ "Rankings: December 31, 2018 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  56. ^ Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  57. ^ Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  58. ^ wonderpance (28 May 2020). "WFTDA Releases Rankings Transition Plan for COVID-19 » WFTDA Roller Derby Resources". WFTDA Roller Derby Resources. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  59. ^ "Rainy City Roller Girls Win UKRDA Sur5al at Tattoo Freeze 2013", RCRG, 15 January 2013
  60. ^ "EuroCup 2018 | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  61. ^ "EuroCup 2019 | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  62. ^ "Euroderby 2012 Archived 2013-07-04 at archive.today", Euroderby 2012
  63. ^ "European Interleague Ranking". European Roller Derby Central. Retrieved 16 September 2022.[dead link]
  64. ^ "Euroderby 2010 Archived 2013-07-04 at archive.today", Euroderby 2010
  65. ^ "Euroderby 2009[permanent dead link]", Euroderby 2009