Nottingham Hellfire Harlots Roller Derby

Nottingham Hellfire Harlots Roller Derby was a flat track roller derby league based in Nottingham, England. Founded in April 2010, the league had two travel teams who played against teams from other leagues. It was a member of the United Kingdom Roller Derby Association (UKRDA)[1] and the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).[2] The league announced their disbanding on the 3rd of August, 2023, citing the difficulties with continuing to run a grassroots sports team. [3]

Nottingham Hellfire Harlots Roller Derby
League logo
Metro areaNottingham
CountryUnited Kingdom
Founded2010
Dissolved2023
Track type(s)Flat
VenueNottingham Trent University
AffiliationsWFTDA
Websitewww.hellfire-harlots.co.uk

History

The league was founded in May 2010 by seven former members of Nottingham Roller Derby.[4] The main focus was to create a driven and, most importantly, competitive amateur sporting team. They initially trained at Sport Nottingham,[5] but lost access to the venue and, after a long search, moved to the Djanogly City Academy before finally setting up their permanent home at Southglade Leisure Centre.[6]

In December 2011, the Hellfire Harlots won the Broxtowe Sports Club of the Year award.[7] Later that year, the league joined the UK Roller Derby Association. In October 2012, the Harlots were accepted as a member of the WFTDA Apprentice Program,[8] and became a full member in December 2013.[9]

In May 2014, the Hellfire Harlots took part in the Nottingham Playhouse's tribute to Torvill and Dean, Mass Bolero,[10][11][12] and can be seen towards the end of the piece.

In February 2015, the Hellfire Harlots won their first British Champs game against Hot Wheel Roller Derby in their first Tier 2 British Roller Derby Championships.[13][14]

The Hellfire Harlots also took part in their first WFTDA tournament, "A Skate Odyssey", hosted by GO-GO Gent Roller Derby, in Ghent 15–17 May 2015.[15]

In April 2016, the Hellfire Harlots took part in West Track Story IV, hosted by Nantes Roller Derby, in Nantes.[16]

In January 2017,  the Hellfire Harlots took part in WFTDA tournament Slip It, hosted by Roller Derby Caen, in France 28-29 January.[17] The same year the league hosted their first European Track Attack 2017 tournament at Lee Westwood sports centre located at Nottingham Trent University. Teams featured were Brussels Derby Pixies, Dundee Roller Girls and Leeds Roller Derby.[18] In November 2017, the Hellfire Harlots took part in Brabo Cup, hosted by Antwerp Roller Derby, in Belgium.[19]

In April 2018 saw the Hellfire Harlots return to ''West Track Story VI tournament'', hosted by Nantes Roller Derby. Hellfire Harlots took the win after winning every single one of their games.[20] In October 2018, the league hosted for the second time their European tournament Track Attack 2018 at Lee Westwood sports centre. Teams featured were Antwerp Roller Derby, Amsterdam Roller Derby and Crime City B Team.[21]

In September 2018, the Hellfire Harlots hosted 'Harlot Fest', a night of celebrating local music in Nottingham.[22]

The league consisted of skaters, non-skating officials and referees. As with most roller derby leagues (especially outside of North America), they were non-profit and funded by both league membership and fundraising activities. The league had a committee made up of current league members, and all positions were voluntary. The main ethos was "by the skaters, for the skaters". The team motto encompassed this; "Together. All of us."

National Team Representation

The league's el VISIOUS skated for Team England at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.[23]

At the 2018 Roller Derby World Cup, Katie Tokarski was part of the Team Ireland Roller Derby training squad.[24]

WFTDA rankings
Season Final ranking[25] Playoffs Championship
2014 142 WFTDA[26] DNQ DNQ
2015 173 WFTDA[27] DNQ DNQ
2016 280 WFTDA[28] DNQ DNQ
2017 137 WFTDA[29] DNQ DNQ
2018 95 WFTDA[30] DNQ DNQ
2019 77 WFTDA[31] DNQ DNQ
2020 77 WFTDA[32] DNQ DNQ

*Please note that rankings were suspended in March 2020 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.[33]

References
  1. "Member Leagues – United Kingdom Roller Derby Association". ukrda.org.uk. UKRDA. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. "Nottingham Hellfire Harlots – WFTDA". wftda.com. UKRDA. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  3. "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  4. "Roller derby enjoys a revival | This is Nottingham". archive.ph. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  5. "Roller derby team need new home". 1 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  6. "Roller derby team secure new home". 26 February 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  7. "Nottingham Hellfire Harlots take Club of the Year Victory Archived 8 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine", ThisIsNottingham, 5 December 2011
  8. "22 Leagues Join WFTDA Apprentice Program Archived 24 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine", WFTDA, 18 October 2012
  9. "WFTDA Welcomes 22 New Full Member Leagues - LatestNews - Women's Flat Track Derby Association". wftda.org. WFTDA. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  10. Mass Bolero - A Tribute To Torvill & Dean. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  11. "Harlots rock the Playhouse's Mass Bolero | Hellfire Harlots". hellfire-harlots.co.uk. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  12. "Nottingham Playhouse Annual Review 2014/15 by Nottingham Playhouse - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  13. Mattocks-Evans, Greg (5 February 2015). "Nottingham roller derby team's first British Championship win". Notts TV News | The heart of Nottingham news coverage for Notts TV. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  14. "Nottingham Hellfire Harlots secure their first British Championships win!". Women's Sport - Women's sport news. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  15. "2015: A Skate Odyssey | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  16. "West Track Story IV | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". www.flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  17. "2017 Slip It | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". www.flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  18. "Track Attack! 2017 | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". www.flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  19. "Brabo Cup 2017 | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". www.flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  20. "West Track Story VI | Roller Derby Stats & Rankings | Flat Track Stats". www.flattrackstats.com. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  21. "Notts to Host European Roller Derby Tournament". LeftLion. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  22. "Harlot Fest - Live Music + More at Maze on 14/09/2018". LeftLion. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  23. "Team England 2011 World Cup Roster | Derby News Network". 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 28 January 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  24. "2016 Training Squad | Team Ireland Roller Derby". 1 February 2019. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  25. "Current Rankings", WFTDA
  26. "Rankings: December 31, 2014". WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  27. "Rankings: December 31, 2015". WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  28. "Rankings: December 31, 2016 – WFTDA". wftda.com. WFTDA. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  29. Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  30. Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  31. Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  32. Watson, Michael. "Current International WFTDA Rankings". WFTDA Stats Home. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  33. wonderpance (28 May 2020). "WFTDA Releases Rankings Transition Plan for COVID-19 » WFTDA Roller Derby Resources". WFTDA Roller Derby Resources. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
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