Let the good times roll

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephanie Mancha
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Have you recently PCSed to the U. K. and are looking to for a hobby or a team to be a part of? Or maybe you've been here a while and are bored with the same old things?

Stop by the Royal Air Force Lakenheath skating rink and check out the Red, White and Bruise Rollers flat-track roller derby team. The team is looking to add more players from RAFs Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Feltwell.

"This team is a private organization open to anyone with base access that is 18 years or older," said Tech. Sgt. Ray Thomas, 100th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant section chief and coach for the RWBR. "We are working on promoting flat-track roller derby to active duty, dependants, retirees and contractors interested in playing a physical sport and meeting new people to further enrich their tour here."

Roller derby is an all-female contact sport played by two teams of five members skating around the track. Each team has a jammer or scoring player that tries to score points by lapping the members of the opposing team. The other four players are called blockers; their role is to assist their jammer to scoring points by deterring the opposing team's jammer with body contact and changing positions.

The team meets at the RAF Lakenheath skating rink Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon. Every other Sunday is non-skate practice where they focus on the physical conditioning of the players.

"We promote fitness and work with everyone regardless of their skill level," said Thomas. "We are a tight-knit community, who play an aggressive physical sport and then meet at the after party to compare bruises and share stories of the games."

If you are interested in becoming part of the team you can "like" them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RWBROLLERS or email them at RWBRollers@gmail.com.