Sick Town Derby Dames vs. Rainier City Roller Dolls

Pack is fighting for position before jammer arrives.

Jammer with "Star" on helmet is only 1 can score.

Teams waits for jammer to come up from rear.

The Crowd of colorful characters, from 3 to 80 years of age, gathered at the Linn County Fairgrounds, Saturday, May19, at 6 p. m. for a rousing game of roller derby.

For those who don’t know the game, skaters proceed in a circle with a pivot, 3 blockers, and a jammer from each team.  The jams/sessions last up to 2 minutes but can be stopped at any time by the lead jammer, designated by a referee, who follows that jammer until play is cut off or time expires.

First whistle blast: The pack takes off.  Second whistle: the jammers take off.  The goal is to become the lead jammer, who is the only one who can score by lapping the pack, coming from the rear of the skaters.  And the jammer is the only one who can call off the scoring.

There are many rules to the game: including, no hands, elbows, forearms or heads can be used during play. No tripping, fighting, cutting across the track to better position or blocking out of bounds is allowed.

Kim Links (Obssessive Kimpulsive), with 3 year-old Lucy, said “ being a stay at home mom of 5 daughters, I wanted something to call mine.  I wanted something my girls would be proud of.  I have always loved to skate and I’ve always been one tough woman.  Derby saved my soul.”

At this bout, 50 percent of the proceeds from a raffle held for free passes to game went to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The Sick Town Derby Dames were able to successfully defeat the Rainer City Roller Dolls 118 to 106 with a display of teamwork and respect, which other sports should try to emulate.