A fast paced, high impact game entertained High Wycombe crowds at the international roller derby last weekend.

Returning after Covid, the Five Nations Roller Derby Back on Track Showcase saw the teams from Wycombe, London, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Cardiff and Dublin fight their way through a pack of opponents on quad skates across two days of action. 

In Roller Derby, the women-aligned teams open to anyone identifying as a woman, queer, trans woman or non-binary, and men-aligned teams open to those self-identifying as men but open to women players too, battle to get their ‘jammer’ through the opponents’ lines, while ‘blockers’ try to stop this.

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Valentina Le Thanh, a spokesperson for Big Bucks High Rollers, the Wycombe- based team, said: “As an amateur full contact sport, roller derby was very badly affected during the pandemic with many teams struggling to survive with dwindling player counts.

Bucks Free Press: High Wycombe Big Bucks High Rollers ready for the game (Floyd King Derby Photography)High Wycombe Big Bucks High Rollers ready for the game (Floyd King Derby Photography)

“This was particularly hard for a sport which is traditionally built around a community of friendly and inclusive people who treat every game like a party on skates - some of us even thought this might prove the end of our sport as we knew it.

“It felt incredible this weekend to watch our entire league, alumni, family and derby pals from all over the British isles come together to organise, play, cheer, officiate and party. Plans for the next season are already in full swing and we cannot wait to build on this successful return!”

Big Bucks High Rollers are hosting a free roller derby taster session at Wycombe's Cressex Community School on Sunday September 4. Places can be booked by emailing info@bigbuckshighrollers.com.

The Bucks team's players age ranges from 18 to over 50, said Ms Le Thanh, whose roller derby name is 'Betta Splendeath'. 

"Some of our players never had skates on their feet before they joined us, no minimal skills are required and we provide all of the equipment you need including protections."

Images courtesy of Floyd King Derby Photography