Out Of Your League: Severn Roller Torrent

by UK American Sports Fans

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Continiung a new feature for UKAmericanSportsFans.com, we bring you some of the fiercest skaters on the roller derby tracks of the UK. Join us as we delve a little deeper into who they are, how they play, and a whole lot more!

Name:

Hannah Barnes

League:

The wonderful Severn Roller Torrent

Derby / Skater name:

Scarlett Shadow

Age:

25

Day job:

I’m a substance misuse worker in a women’s prison.

How did you choose your derby name?

It took me a long, long time to pick my name. I knew I wanted to include a female first name, and was quite keen on the alliteration. I came up with a huge list of ideas and eventually decided on Scarlett Shadow. It took me about 6 months and in the end I needed to choose one before my first bout came up, so just picked my favourite one on my list!

What is your usual role on the rink?

Currently I do a mixture of jamming and blocking. For a long time I only jammed and it was about a year or so after I started playing derby that I began blocking as well. On bout days I tend to do a lot of jamming, but will happily go on and block as much as I am needed.

What do you think is your greatest strength or asset in that role?

I think my endurance and fitness are pretty good. Endurance is so important for a jamming when you need to be on the move constantly throughout the jam. My fitness helps me to be a stronger and faster skater & enables me to keep getting up when I am knocked down. Speed is also definitely my friend. I love to skate fast, and try to use this to my advantage whether I am jamming or blocking.

What do you enjoy most about derby?

My team mates are definitely top of the list. I have never been a sporty person; I used to avoid PE at all costs during school so I find it amazing that I have stuck to a sport for 3 years now. There is no way I would have continued for this long if SRT wasn’t full of the most friendly, inspiring, encouraging and wonderful people I have ever met. Aside from my lovely team, I love derby because it is so challenging. I love that there is so much strategy involved & that it is such a fast-paced and physical game.

Who have been your toughest opponents to date and why?

Definitely Kent Roller Girls. We played them last month and it was by far the toughest bout I have done in 3 years. They were all incredible skaters, enacting their strategy with speed and precision. The jammers are tough and fearless, and the blockers fast and hard-hitting. They gained a well-deserved win over us, and I would definitely say they are a team that will go far in the UK.

Which of your team mates are you glad you don’t have to skate against and why?

It has to be the one and only Jedi Mistress. She has the best track face I’ve ever seen, and I definitely do not like to be the opposing jammer when she is on the track. Jedi is a strategy mastermind and is known to execute some massive blocks. Jedi has definitely been around the track a few times!

Please tell us a word of roller derby slang and explain what it means.

Eat the baby – using a bit of jammer-on-jammer offense to allow your team mates to catch up with the opposing jammer that thinks she has left the pack, and sucking her back in. Amazing to watch!

What would you say to fresh meat out there thinking of getting involved?

If you are thinking of getting involved then I would advise you to take the plunge! Roller derby is a tough sport, but the love and support you will get from your league will encourage you to keep on improving. I can honestly say it is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I think many people will agree.

When can people next see you skate?

The next time I am skating is 9th June against Wiltshire in the Heartland Series west division. SRT have done well in the series so far and are top of the leader board, so we are looking to maintain are position with a win in June.