Today I found out my colleagues in the Dublin Roller Girls had voted for me to take the role of head ref. This was a goal I realistically had not expected to fill for quite some time. I am now skating only 8 months and personally I feel I have achieved a lot, but nothing could mean more to be than the growing respect among my peers. They have taught me so much and their support is ever growing. One sad point of achieving this status is that my good friend Ray had to lose out.

This is a guy who has thought me how to be a better skater, have greater confidence in myself and is always there for me when I am unsure or otherwise. I would really like to point out, that no matter how my term as head ref goes, if I do right be him, then I know I am earning my role. My thanks really goes out to him and I know he will have my back every step of the way. (Unless I am diabolically shit, but l digress :P).

I know I am not the most advanced skater, I know I am short on bout experience, but I know I can, if I put my mind to it, do this role justice. I will learn to be a better skater, I will learn to be decisive without ruling out opinion and I will do all I can to make my team happy that they have given me this opportunity.

I will admit, I am terrified, but I feel if I wasn’t I wouldn’t fully respect the responsibility I have been given. My terror isn’t one that will inhibit my abilities, it in fact will just drive me to do better and in time over come it. I have the support of my friends, already helping me prepare for this journey I am about to part take in. I have been told I face “an uphill battle” a steep one at that, but I was also told I can do it and to hear that statement calmed me into the sense of, I have to and I will.

It was never going to be easy, it will be work, it will be challenging but it will be fun. Some would call it a roller coasters ride, this is roller derby and that’s much better!