Auld Reekie Roller Girls

Auld Reekie Roller Girls are an all female flat track roller derby league based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Together since April 2008, we are run entirely by our skaters for our skaters and are a proud member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). Since our inception, the league has grown from a group of women meeting up to talk about derby, to a full WFTDA member league with over 85 members, two well established travel teams and a stellar referee and NSO crew. A bit of ARRG History Named after the city of Edinburgh, affectionately known as ‘Auld Reekie’ (Scots for Old Smoky), The Auld Reekie Roller Girls were formed in April 2008 to become Edinburgh’s first women’s flat track roller derby team. From modest origins, where a handful of girls got together to discuss this new and exciting sport, 40 girls turned up to the second meeting, and the league has gone from strength to strength ever since. Run as a ‘not for profit’ committee based sports group, ARRG is keen to promote fun, fitness, equality and friendship for women of all ages (over 18), who are interested in trying something new and exciting. Although all of our members are unique in their own way, we have a shared goal in seeking continuous improvement in our sport and we’re committed to democratic principles, teamwork and sportswomanship. We encourage diversity and self expression, and above all value the fun of taking part in roller derby bouts all over the UK and hopefully further afield. ARRG’s first public bout, ‘Fishnet Burns’, took place on 24 January 2009 at Meadowbank Sports Centre. Since then the league’s two bouting teams, the Twisted Thistles and the Cannon Belles, have taken on some of the best teams in Europe and the UK. They placed fourth in 2009 in ‘Roll Britannia’, Europe’s first roller derby tournament, and they have travelled as far as Stuttgart to compete against their European counterparts. WFTDA recognition In September 2011, ARRG became the second league outside of North America (the continent) to be accepted as a full member league of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association – the sport’s governing body. This membership is a fantastic testament to the development of European roller derby and will allow ARRG to compete in WFTDA-sanctioned bouts, factor in rankings and contribute to shaping the development of the sport. ARRG today 2011 has seen ARRG grow to over 80 members, bout against internationally ranked leagues and introduce both a home season with three intra-league teams and a recreational league. With an ever-growing fan base, constantly evolving teams and a host of hard-working skaters striving to hit harder and skate faster, ARRG continues to make its presence felt across the UK.