Falling over for the first time, passing minimum skills, first scrimmage… all milestones that have been achieved by the Tiger Bay Cubs during the past twelve months.
On the 8th of December the Cubs will be ticking off their next big milestone… their first public bout! But this will not only be a first for each of the Cubs, it’s also a first for the UK. The very first public Junior Roller Derby exhibition bout will take place in Cardiff, with the Tiger Bay Brawlers A Team taking on Glasgow Roller Derby’s Irn Bruisers later that day.
The Tiger Bay Cubs were established in January of 2012 by Tiger Bay Head Coach Judge Redd and skater Edel, with the assistance of the Cardiff Council 5×60 organisation. Many American Roller Derby Clubs have established Junior teams, but only a handful have started in the UK so far. Giving teenagers the opportunity to take part in a sport where there is a place for all body types and fitness levels was just one of the reasons Redd and Edel wanted to start a Junior team.
The dedication of the Cubs and their enthusiasm for everything derby has blown the coaches away. School holidays, birthdays, injuries… none of these things have stopped the Cubs from attending practise and working towards their goal of bouting.
The team is made up of girls from a variety of different Cardiff schools. A lot of the girls didn’t know each other when they first joined but as everyone involved in roller derby knows the bond that is made from hitting one another on track sets the base for awesome off track friendships.
However, when that first whistle goes on bout day these friendships will be put to one side as the skaters line up on track in their intra league teams – Black and Orange. Don’t expect anything but fierce competitive derby from these girls ranging in age from 11-17 on game day each team is out to win.
