Houston Roller Derby (HRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Houston, Texas. HRD was founded in early 2004, and is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).
History Originally formed in early 2004 as the Space City Rollergirls, Houston Roller Derby split from their founding group in the pursuit of an all-skater owned league, after the founding members of Space City attempted to fire the league's coed training team. The new league focused on democratic leadership, with decisions made by committees with elected leaders. HRD's first bout took place in October 2005 at the Pasadena Convention Center, and by this time the league had about 60 members and consisted of four teams: The Bayou City Bosses, The Burlesque Brawlers, The Machete Betties and The Psych Ward Sirens. 2006 bouts took place at the Arabia Shrine Temple.Louis B. Parks, "Houston Chronicle," May 28, 2006, "Good bad girls: The women of Roller Derby are a hit in Houston", accessed February 25, 2010 The 2007 and 2008 season bouts took place at the Verizon Wireless Theater, with additional games held at Jopa Sports in Shenandoah. The 2009 and 2010 bouts took place at Kick's Indoor, and the 2011 bouts took place at Houston Indoor Sports. Houston Roller Derby filed as a public charity (Houston Rollergirls Inc. dba Houston Roller Derby) and received its tax-deductible 501(c)(3) non-profit status effective March 11, 2011. HRD's season bouts from the 2012 season forward take place in downtown Houston at Bayou Music Center (formerly the Verizon Wireless Theater).
Teams Houston Roller Derby consists of four home teams that play within the league as well as against visiting teams from other WFTDA leagues. Houston Roller Derby also has an all-star travel team, formerly called HaRD Knocks but now referred to as the all-stars, which was formed in 2006 to play against other WFTDA leagues across the U.S. and in WFTDA tournaments and competitions. The HRD all-stars were one of twelve WFTDA teams who qualified to compete in the WFTDA Championships in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2009.Craig Malisow, "Houston Press," Nov. 11, 2009, "Houston's Roller Grrls Headed To National Championship", accessed February 25, 2010 League skater Windigo played for Team Canada at the 2011 Roller Derby World Cup.
Houston Roller Derby formed the travel team in 2006 to play against other WFTDA leagues across the country and in tournaments and competitions. The team's first interleague competition was the Dust Devil National Flat Track Derby Tournament held in February 2006. The Texas Rollergirls from Austin won the 20-team tournament held in Tucson, Arizona; HRD placed 13th.Lana Berkowitz, "Houston Chronicle", April 6, 2006, "Rollergirl has Killa instinct", accessed February 25, 2010
WFTDA competition
Houston Roller Derby competed at the first WFTDA Championships, the "Dust Devil" tournament, in 2006, where they finished in 13th place. Houston next competed at WFTDA Playoffs in 2008 as the 11th seed at that year's WFTDA Western Regional Tournament and finished in ninth place. Ahead of the 2009 season, the WFTDA adjusted its structure, and Houston was placed in the South Central Region. At that year's WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament, Houston was the third seed and finished in third place with a 113–101 victory over the Dallas Derby Devils to qualify for Championships. At Championships, Houston was eliminated by a 239–46 loss to Rocky Mountain Rollergirls in the opening round. In 2010, Houston was the seventh seed at the South Central Regional, and finished in seventh place by defeating Dallas 150–69. As the fifth seed at the 2011 South Central Playoff, Houston again finished in the seeded position at fifth, with a 173–157 victory over No Coast Derby Girls. At the final South Central Regional in 2012, Houston was the third seed but went 1-2 and finished in ninth place by beating Jacksonville RollerGirls 255–155.
In 2013 the WFTDA restructured playoffs again, and under the new divisional model Houston qualified as a Division 1 team as the seventh seed for the tournament in Asheville, North Carolina, and finished in sixth place after a 202–185 loss to Steel City Derby Demons. Houston was the ninth seed at the 2014 Evansville Division 1 tournament, but lost their three games to finish in tenth. In 2015, Houston competed as the third seed at the Division 2 Playoff in Cleveland, and finished in fourth place, losing their final game to Santa Cruz Derby Girls 154–141. Houston returned to Division 2 in 2016 at Wichita as the second seed, but ultimately finished in sixth place, ending their weekend with a 184–181 loss to the Boulder County Bombers. In 2017 Houston returned to Division 1 Playoffs as the eleventh seed in Dallas, but lost to Queen City Roller Girls 195-104 and to Atlanta Rollergirls 323–143 to finish out of the medal round. In 2018 Houston received an invitation to a WFTDA Continental Cup, but declined their invitation.
WFTDA competition, including championships, went on hiatus following the 2019 competition. The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to the sport, leading to the cancellation of the 2020 Championships and subsequent years. In 2023, the WFTDA announced a significant restructuring of its competitive play system, with a return to playoffs and championships in a new regional format for 2024.
Rankings
SeasonFinal ranking"Current Rankings", WFTDAPlayoffsChampionship200620 WFTDA"12/8/2006 WFTDA National Rankings", WFTDA [version of 23 February 2007]—13200721 WFTDA"Current WFTDA Rankings", Derby News Network, October 2007DNQDNQ20082 SC9 WDNQ20093 SC3 SCR120107 SC7 SCDNQ20115 SC5 SCDNQ20127 SC9 SCDNQ201326 WFTDA6 D1DNQ201445 WFTDA10 D1DNQ201549 WFTDA4 D2DNQ201652 WFTDA6 D2DNQ201733 WFTDACR D1DNQ201831 WFTDADNP CC NA WestDNQ201931 WFTDADNQDNQ CR = consolation round DNP = did not play
Partial WFTDA sanctioned results
Partial travel team bouting history Date Opponent Score Location 10/02/11 No Coast Derby Girls 173 HRD157 NCDG Kansas City, Missouri, Show Me Der-B-Q - 2011 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 10/01/11 Omaha Rollergirls 170 HRD103 OR Kansas City, Missouri, Show Me Der-B-Q - 2011 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 10/01/11 Gold Coast Derby Grrls 138 HRD106 HRD Kansas City, Missouri, Show Me Der-B-Q - 2011 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 09/30/11 Atlanta Rollergirls 133 AR117 HRD Kansas City, Missouri, Show Me Der-B-Q - 2011 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 09/10/11 Assassination City Roller Derby 182 HRD75 ACRD Ft. Worth, Texas 07/30/11 Montreal Roller Derby 126 MRD121 HRD Houston, Texas 07/10/11 Windy City Rollers 171 WCR74 HRD Chicago, Illinois 07/08/11 Boston Derby Dames 102 BDD96 HRD Boston, Massachusetts 05/28/11 Harrisburg Area Roller Derby 303 HRD59 HARD Houston, Texas, 2011 Comicpalooza Convention 05/14/11 Green Country Roller Girls 166 HRD55 GCRG Huntsville, Alabama, 2011 Rocket City Rumble Tournament 05/14/11 Atlanta Rollergirls 107 AR73 HRD Huntsville, Alabama, 2011 Rocket City Rumble Tournament 04/03/11 Green Country Roller Girls 255 HRD53 GCRG Dallas, Texas, 2011 Clover Cup Tournament 04/03/11 Texas Rollergirls 119 TXRG69 HRD Dallas, Texas, 2011 Clover Cup Tournament 04/02/11 Dallas Derby Devils 223 HRD59 DDD Dallas, Texas, 2011 Clover Cup Tournament 04/02/11 Texas Rollergirls 144 TXRG90 HRD Dallas, Texas, 2011 Clover Cup Tournament 03/06/11 Ohio Rollergirls 193 HRD60 OR Tampa Bay, Florida, 2011 Franky Panky Tournament 03/06/11 Gold Coast Derby Grrls 214 HRD38 GCDG Tampa Bay, Florida, 2011 Franky Panky Tournament 03/05/11 Tampa Bay Derby Darlins 107 HRD55 TBDD Tampa Bay, Florida, 2011 Franky Panky Tournament 02/13/11 Texas Rollergirls 197 TXRG71 HRD Beaumont, Texas, 2011 Governor's Cup Tournament 02/13/11 Dallas Derby Devils 153 HRD104 DDD Beaumont, Texas, 2011 Governor's Cup Tournament 02/13/11 Texas Rollergirls 158 TXRG40 HRD Beaumont, Texas, 2011 Governor's Cup Tournament 02/12/11 Spindletop Roller Girls 208 HRD45 SRG Beaumont, Texas, 2011 Governor's Cup Tournament 02/12/11 Dallas Derby Devils 124 HRD87 DDD Beaumont, Texas, 2011 Governor's Cup Tournament 10/10/10 Dallas Derby Devils 150 HRD69 DDD Lincoln, Nebraska, Amber Waves of Pain - 2010 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 10/09/10 Tampa Bay Derby Darlins 144 TBDD129 HRD Lincoln, Nebraska, Amber Waves of Pain - 2010 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 10/08/10 Memphis Roller Derby 237 HRD61 MRD Lincoln, Nebraska, Amber Waves of Pain - 2010 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 10/08/10 Atlanta Rollergirls 153 AR92 HRD Lincoln, Nebraska, Amber Waves of Pain - 2010 WFTDA South Central Regional Tournament 08/28/10 Assassination City Roller Derby 276 HRD40 ACRD Fort Worth, Texas, 2010 Clover Cup Tournament 07/25/10 Brewcity Bruisers 120 BB102 HRD Milwaukee, Wisconsin 07/24/10 Mad Rollin' Dolls Roller Derby 180 MRDRD80 HRD Madison, Wisconsin 06/05/10 Steel City Derby Demons 218 SCDD67 HRD Houston 05/01/10 Dixie Derby Girls 188 HRD33 DDD Houston Texas 03/07/10 Tampa Bay Derby Darlins 150 TBDD143 HRD Fort Worth, Texas, 2010 Clover Cup Tournament 03/06/10 Dallas Derby Devils 141 DDD54 HRD Fort Worth, Texas, 2010 Clover Cup Tournament 02/21/10 Dallas Derby Devils 163 DDD91 HRD Austin, Texas, 2010 Governors Cup Tournament 02/20/10 Dallas Derby Devils 174 DDD64 HRD Austin, Texas, 2010 Governors Cup Tournament 02/20/10 Assassination City Roller Derby 168 HRD60 ACRD Austin, Texas, 2010 Governors Cup Tournament 11/13/09 Rocky Mountain Rollergirls 239 RMRG46 HRD Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Declaration of Derby - 2009 WFTDA National Championship 05/02/09 127 HRD181 DSDG Houston, Texas 10/04/08 Dallas Derby Devils 90 HRD 65 DDD Houston, Texas, BattleRoyale - 2008 WFTDA Western Regional Tournament 02/09/08 Pikes Peak Derby Dames 117 PPDD 97 HRD Colorado Springs, Colorado 01/06/08 Memphis Roller Derby 126 HRD 58 MRD Memphis, Tennessee 09/16/07 Dallas Derby Devils 114 HRD90 DDD Houston, Texas
In media In 2009, members of Houston Roller Derby were featured in Hard Knocks: Rolling with the Derby Girls, a photo collection book by Houston photographer Shelley Canton.
References
External links Houston Roller Derby Official Website Archived Page Women's Flat Track Derby Association Official Website