Berkshire

The Windsor Rollergirls have 40 active members

As Whip It, a film about Roller Derby, opens in the UK, BBC Radio Berkshire talks to the Windsor Rollergirls.

Roller derby only reached the UK in 2006, but new teams are starting up on a weekly basis according to roller derby skater Mary Sweeney.

"With the film coming out, hopefully there'll be even more teams starting up," she said.

The fast contact team sport involves players wearing distinctive fashions and the use of skate name aliases.

Mary Sweeney, whose skate name is "Red Arrow" said that players enjoyed dressing up in fishnets, stripy knee high socks and vests.

"I'm called Red Arrow, because I'm a redhead," she said. "Girls get dressed up and wear fishnets and vests. Some people will do the minimum and wear the team colours, some people like to dress up. You can doll yourself up as much as you want."

Roller Derby Roller derby is a fast-paced, full-contact sport for the over 18's played on the more 'traditional' quad roller-skates Two teams of five skate together, anti-clockwise around an oval track. A point scorer from each team attempts to continually lap the pack, scoring a point for each opposing girl she passes. Originally played in the US in the 1920s, the sport has seen a huge revival in the past decade, arriving here in the UK in 2006. Roller derby is a predominantly female sport, although men's leagues are emerging and men can also get involved by becoming referees and officials. Roller derby is the fastest growing sport for females right now, with 40+ teams in the UK. Skaters often adopt a skate alias, usually a satirical play on words e.g. No DiscipLyn, Jess of the D'Erbykills All types of people get involved in roller derby, regardless of their size, shape or age (there's no upper age limit). The Royal Windsor Rollergirls started with just five girls and one referee in 2007, they now have 50 members including six referees. The next chance to see Windsor Rollergirls is on Saturday 24 April (vs Romsey Town Rollerbillies) at High Wycombe Sports Centre, Marlow Hill.

"Rink rash" is a common phenomenon amongst players, an injury caused by the fishnets they wear.

Players often find out about teams in their area online, using social networking sites, and enjoy an active social life.

Mary Sweeney been skating since August 2009, but the Royal Windsor Rollergirls group has been running since 2007.

"With the film coming out hopefully there'll be even more teams starting up," said Mary, a former martial arts enthusiast.

"There's nothing really like it at the minute. I like the combo of skating fast, girls hitting you, working on the defence and the offense.

"The adrenaline rush is absolutely exhilarating.

"It's not just you're playing a sport. I'm not a gym bunny - it's got to be exercise by distraction. It's getting fit and sociable at the same time."

Roller derby teams are 90 per cent female in the UK.

There is only one men's roller derby in the UK composed of referees affiliated with women teams.

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