Croydon Roller Derby’s President Garfield (left, with star on her helmet) takes on Portsmouth’s Malibash Stacey in the recent Eastbourne Extreme. Photographs by Vicky Walters

The skaters of Croydon Roller Derby are oiling up their wheels for their next crunching match, against Cardiff’s Tiger Bay Brawlers.

And Inside Croydon has a pair of tickets to giveaway in a special competition for our loyal reader.

Roller derby was born in Chicago in the 1930s and spruced up in a post-punk manner for the 21st century, it is rapidly becoming the extreme sport to watch on this side of the pond – leagues are popping up all over Britain and people from all backgrounds are strapping their skates on and comparing their “rink rash” (the bruises you get from falling over on track).

Croydon Roller Derby – or CRD – have just managed to win the Eastbourne Extreme tournament for a second successive year, fighting tooth and wheel against teams from Kent, Portsmouth and High Wycombe to take home the Golden Skate trophy. Founded by local women four years ago, CRD is now 30th in the European Roller Derby rankings.

The CRD team celebrate after retaining their Eastbourne Extreme title

CRD will be hosting their next bout, Rumble in the Cronx, at the Westcroft Sports Centre in Carshalton on Saturday August 17, at 1pm.

CRD’s Captain Apocalex with the Golden Skate won in Eastbourne

The bout will begin with a “mixed opener” – in which different skaters from the rapidly expanding roller derby community are invited to come and compete in front of an audience of friends, family, and diehard derby fans.

Win a pair of free tickets

You caan come and see Croydon’s wheeled warrior-women going head to head against the famously fearsome Welsh team. All you have to do to enter the competition is email inside.croydon@btinternet.com, with “Roller Derby” in the subject field, providing your name, daytime contact phone number, and the answer to this question: What was the name of the star of the 1975 movie, Rollerball?

The winner will be the first correct answer received before the closing date of midnight on July 31. The winner will be notified by email. Usual Inside Croydon T&Cs apply.

• For more on the Croydon Roller Derby, visit their Facebook page here 

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• Post your comments on this article below. If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com

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• Roller Derby facts (respublica.typepad.com)
• Tips for Roller Derby Beginners (ericksonvicki1.wordpress.com)