It took a couple of years for the sport to become more widely established in the UK. I helped start a local team in Essex in 2008, before transferring to Cambridge Roller Derby in 2009 and starting to train and play competitively. In 2014 I stopped playing after injuries (more on that later!), but I supported Tiger Bay Brawlers in various roles when I moved to Cardiff. I finally found myself in a position to play again last year, and I couldn’t be happier.

How did you first find you had a passion/skill for roller derby?

The passion came quickly – partly because in the early days if we wanted to play this sport, we had to be in it 100%! I was involved in setting up new teams, learning how to run them, arranging games, learning to referee and officiate and even announcing at events – a bit of everything!

As for skill – that’s taken a lot of determination and hard work. I am an enthusiastic athlete, but I wouldn’t say I’m naturally talented. I put 100% into training and expect a lot out of myself – I love seeing little improvements when learning new skills, and then putting them in to practice in games.

I was always active as a kid; ballet, swimming, cycling and I loved athletics and rounders at school. But there were never really any viable options presented to me after compulsory P.E lessons ended and so, like many other women, I stopped playing sport in my late teens. I would go to the gym occasionally, but never particularly enjoyed it. Roller derby reminded me just how much I loved being active!

What is it about roller derby you enjoy the most?

Whilst I love training hard and playing that game, it’s the incredible community found in roller derby that brings me the most joy. I know wherever in the world I go, I can reach out to a local team who will provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe space.

In 2019 Tiger Bay Brawlers were preparing for European championships – the BBC Wales documentary Hell on Wheels followed that journey, with a focus on the lives of the team and the community found in roller derby. Whilst it’s not currently available on iPlayer in full, I highly recommend watching the clips available that give an insight into this wonderful sport.

BBC One - Hell On Wheels

What drives you to succeed and to keep training so hard?

The results I get! Both mentally and physically.

It’s not been an easy journey & I’ve been unlucky with injuries. I tore a ligament in my knee and dealt with some concussions very early on. In December 2013 I broke my left leg and dislocated my ankle at a roller disco, somehow in July 2014 I then did the same to my right leg in one of my first training sessions. I spent the majority of 2014 on crutches, on a lot of painkillers and having surgeries – I was told these were life-changing injuries, but I never believed I was done with roller derby!

I moved to Wales in 2015 and joined Tiger Bay Brawlers, but I found the mental impact of the injuries left me suffering with panic attacks and flashbacks, to the extent I couldn’t skate. I struggled to accept that I couldn’t play anymore and eventually distanced myself from it.

When a friend reached out last year to ask if I could help Tiger Bay Brawlers as an official, I started training again. It was never my intention to start playing, but time (and a lot of therapy!) had helped heal my trauma and I realised I wasn’t struggling with those panic attacks. I decided to see where things would take me, not pushing my brain or body too hard. 10 years away left me very rusty!

It’s been a year since I started playing again; I’ve learnt to be patient with myself, finding some skills and all the passion come flooding back. The biggest driving force for me now is seeing what I can achieve in the time I have left – however long that might be. I started playing in my 20s and in a few weeks, I turn 40. I’m training hard to ensure I’m fit and strong enough to minimise my risk of injury and maximise my potential!

How do you relax and unwind when you’re not competing or training?

That’s always a struggle; I started HMRC’s Tax Specialist Programme in 2023 so there’s a lot of learning and reading to do in my downtime! Roller derby training is my opportunity to unwind from the pressure of work. So that can be a bit of a vicious cycle!

When I do eek out some time, I have an allotment that gives me much-needed fresh air and sunlight after spending too much time in sports halls! I also enjoy dressmaking and knitting, and I have 4 cats that keep me on my toes.

Does roller derby help in your everyday life such as gaining confidence, health, wellbeing?

I cannot express how life-changing roller derby has been for me.

I started skating in my 20s; I was an insecure young woman with low self-esteem and struggling with depression and an eating disorder. The diversity of bodies that exist in roller derby was important in helping me improve my body confidence. Playing roller derby helped me appreciate what my body can do, without worrying quite so much what it looks like.

Off-skates, because roller derby is entirely community-run, I’ve developed useful leadership and admin skills which have transferred across into the workplace time and time again. I’ve held committee positions for the leagues I’ve been a part of, as well as serving on the board of directors for the national governing body. More than once I’ve used examples from roller derby at successful job interviews!

In the middle of 2023, my long-term relationship came to an end; I can confidently say that without the focus of training and the support of my team, I would not be where I am now. It has been an incredibly challenging year, but roller derby has helped rebuild my confidence and find my way back to being a great version of myself.

What, if any, special training, equipment, nutrition do you need to take part?

Roller derby is played on quad skates and as a full contact sport we require helmets, gumshields, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads to keep us as safe as possible. Even entry-level equipment isn’t cheap; you’re looking at £250 to start, although the second-hand market is strong. Most leagues, Tiger Bay Brawlers included, run “learn to skate” courses that teach the fundamentals of quad skating, roller derby skills and strategy. We recognise the cost as a significant barrier to accessing the sport and we provide rental equipment to those taking part in our courses and partner with a local skate shop who offer a discount for league members.

At the highest level we’re training on-skates 3 times per week, 7 hours total – although a huge barrier is finding sufficient venue availability that allows us to train as much as we’d like. I work with a personal trainer who’s a sports injury specialist; he’s helped repair my body and brain from my big injuries and manage smaller niggles as they come up! He’s been invaluable in my recovery and skill development, as well as supporting my nutrition goals when needed (which are mostly hydrate and eat more protein!).

Most of us playing competitively will also be cross-training alongside skating; on the team we have marathon runners, cross-fitters, yoga enthusiasts and several people who’ve taken part in strongman, powerlifting and weightlifting competitions.

What successes have you had?

The biggest success for me personally was making the charter for our All Stars team. This represents the highest level of roller derby I’ve ever played and something I didn’t think possible after I broke my legs. I also play on our B team and received the “most valuable blocker” award at our first game of the season.

The B team played our first season in the national tournament in the South West tier; we won all our games, winning the tier and earning us promotion to the next division for the 2025 season.

The All Stars have fought hard for ranking position this last year and as a result we are currently ranked 9th overall in Europe (3rd in the UK), earning us an invitation to the European regional Championships in June. Whilst we didn’t progress far enough in the tournament to make global championships, we learnt a lot as a team and had a wonderful weekend in Malmo!

How will CSSC’s funding help you?

When I returned to skating, all my equipment was 10 years old or more. My feet had changed shape and my skates no longer fit me well! I returned to an expensive hobby just at the time my household income had dropped by 60% and I didn’t know how I was going to afford to continue.

My current skates cost around £750 for boots, plates and wheels – not including pads and helmet. I broke a kneepad in a heavy fall last year and bruised my wrist in another. Without the funding I received from CSSC to buy new equipment I wouldn’t have had the confidence to train as hard as I have. CSSC funding has kept me playing my sport, surrounded by people I love, at the most difficult time of my life and I am so very grateful.

What’s your favourite CSSC activity?

I’ve been a CSSC member since I joined the Civil Service back in 2018. I’ve made use of both regional and national offerings. Very early on I won a shopping voucher, which was nice at Christmas time! I’ve been to film screenings locally, which is always a lovely treat. Visiting Stonehenge was a favourite perk – I was travelling back from a break with my family and realised I’d be passing - I searched CSSC and saw that it was included in our membership, so had a lovely break of my journey! Now whenever I’m travelling, I’ll check what’s available locally – I’ve got plans to meet up with a friend to celebrate out 40th birthdays exploring castles thanks to my membership.