Pegasus Post: September 06, 2016

PEGASUS POST Tuesday September 6 2016 13
Our People
‘Evel’ Knievel of roller skating
Kay Newton spends
her spare time in
safety gear speeding
around a track on roller
skates. She spoke to
Caitlin Miles about
how she got into roller
derbies and her time
representing New
Zealand at world cup
competitions
FIRSTLY I have to ask what
your roller derby name is?
It’s Evilknevil, I picked it
because it just worked really well
with the fact my name is Kay.
Can you tell me why you decided
to get into roller derbies?
There was myself and a couple
of others talking about it one day
and we decided to go to watch
a practice and see what was
involved and it just seemed really
fun so we thought we would do
it.
Can you explain to me what is
involved in a roller derby?
Well, it’s played on an oval
track and you have 14 people
from each team on the side lines.
But there are only five people on
the track at any one time. But
players rotate throughout the
game so that’s why there is so
many. There is a jammer who
is the one designated to score
points by lapping people on the
opposite team and then the other
four are blockers. Most people
can be blockers, you can have
any body type really, but jammers
are usually a bit slighter
built and have good stamina.
Jams, which are the sessions,
have a time limit of two minutes
as well. It’s hard to explain, but
it’s a lot of fun.
Are you a jammer?
I was for a few years. Not any
more though, because we have a
lot of jammers in our team so we
need more blockers. I like being
able to do both so I don’t mind.
Is being a blocker quite
violent?
I would avoid using the word
violent. It’s not as brutal as people
think. There are a lot of referees
involved in the game and, if
they catch you doing something
intentional towards another
player that can hurt them, you’ll
be given a penalty or possibly
taken off. There is only a certain
area on the body where you can
hit people and that’s not above
the shoulders and it’s not below
the knees. You can’t elbow people
or punch people, or anything like
that. It’s like any contact sport,
you can get hurt. But I have had
worse injuries from soccer than
from roller derbies believe it or
not.
Really? I always thought it
was very violent?
A lot of people do, but we have
a lot of protective gear as well.
Have you had any bad hits?
None that have made me want
to stop playing. I have had a few
where I’ve thought, oh, that’s a
goodie or that’s going to hurt
later, but I’ve always got back
into it.
Could you roller skate before
getting into roller derbies?
Yeah, I have been roller skating
ever since I was a kid, so I had
the skills before getting involved.
I thought it would be a fun
chance to do something I really
enjoyed as a kid.
How long have you been
ROLLER BLADER:
New Brighton’s Kay
Newton has been
involved in roller
derbies since 2009
and goes by the
name Evilknevil
when she’s on the
roller derby track.
involved in roller derbies?
Since September of 2009. I
have played for the same team
the whole time as well. There
were quite a few of us just discovering
what roller derby was.
Where you nervous before
your first game?
It was so long ago now I can’t
really remember, but yeah, I
think I would have been. I mean
who wouldn’t be? I think it’s the
same feeling before playing in
any sport. I was nervous and
anxious, but I was excited too.
It’s basically the same feeling
before any game I think. But you
practice and train before, so you
are prepared for the game.
How do you train?
I don’t want to give too many
secrets away about our training.
We practice layouts and tactics
and things like that, making sure
the team works well and everyone
is on the same page. But we
have a really strong core team,
so we already work really well
together.
Do you balance work with
training?
I work for Vivace Espresso. I
drive around the city teaching
people how to make coffee so
they can keep Christchurch caffeinated
basically.
Has much changed in the
game over the years?
The rules have changed a
bit over the years. Our rules
come from the American roller
derby league. So when they make
changes or alter the rules of the
game or safety rules or something,
we do the same. So there
have been small changes over the
years.
Have you noticed roller derby
change in popularity?
I can’t really say if the sport has
gained or lost popularity, but our
team has always done well. We
have had members come and go
for various reasons; they don’t
want to do this anymore, or they
want to pursue different things,
or they decide to have a family,
so they come and go throughout
the sport, but we always have a
great team.
What are some of your
highlights from roller derby?
There have been a couple.
I don’t want to blow my own
trumpet, but I represented New
Zealand at the 2011 World Cup
in Toronto and the 2014 World
Cup in Dallas. That required a lot
of fundraising because it’s not a
cheap event to take part in. I was
really shocked actually because
my team presented me with a
cheque to help me out. I cried
when they did that. I was really
surprised and couldn’t believe
they had given me that support.
They are some of my really close
friends.
You’ve got a big roller derby
meet coming up as well, right?
Yeah, this weekend actually.
We’re facing off against Wellington,
which will be a really good
game. We are currently ranked
third in New Zealand and they
are number one. We played them
previously and they beat us by
150 points, so we really want
to redeem that. Really looking
forward to facing off.
Kids Birthday Parties
Choose from one of our Great Party Packages to suit!
1
2
3
4
Paintball, mini golf (indoor or outdoor), 50 balls and
club hire for the driving range $39 per child.
Paintball, mini golf (indoor or outdoor) $32 per child.
Indoor and outdoor mini golf, 50 balls and club hire
for the driving range $20 per child.
Indoor or outdoor mini golf, 50 balls and club hire
for the driving range $14 per child.
To book ph 376 5350, 50 Ferrymead Park Drive, Ferrymead
Book any Birthday Party with Caddyshack
and you will receive:
• Mini golf game for each child ($9 per child).
• Use of party room for one hour for $50, or two hours for $90.
• Caddyshack Party Meal and drink.
• Caddyshack lollies.
• Themed party gear including invitations and balloons.
• Caddyshack party host to ensure fun and relaxation.
• The birthday child also receives a gift.
• All party goers receive a free child mini putt voucher for
their next visit.
Ph 384 1566, 21 King Edward Terrace, Woolston