Bear City Roller Derby

The league was founded as the Berlin Bombshells, although it now reserves that name for its interleague bouting team. It was the second roller derby league in Germany, and was assisted in its early development by the first league, the Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz.Manda Singer, "[http://www.provokator.org/articles/bombshelled Bombshelled]", ProvokatoR, 6 September 2010 In its early days, it was thrown out of its practice hall by Berlin's sports department; the team decided to take legal action to regain access to a public practice space.Marta Popowska, "A short history of roller derby in Europe", Blood and Thunder #15, pp.18-23 The league was given a boost when Diane Rott transferred from the B.ay A.rea D.erby Girls.

It competed in the first roller derby bout between two German leagues, against the Stuttgart Valley Rollergirlz in 2009. In the same year, it competed in "Roll Britannia", the first roller derby tournament in Europe, while in December, it hosted the first European Roller Derby Organisational Conference (EROC).[http://bearcityrollerderby.com/ueber-uns About] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920030237/http://bearcityrollerderby.com/ueber-uns |date=September 20, 2011 }}, Bear City Roller Derby {{in lang|de}}

Bear City hosted the first German Roller Derby Championship, held in December 2010, losing 124-128 to Stuttgart in the final."[http://www.goodnews-stuttgart.de/Sportlich/Stuttgarter-Rollergirlz-siegen-in-Berlin-a2328.html Stuttgarter Rollergirlz siegen in Berlin]", Good News, 18 December 2010 {{in lang|de}}

In July 2016, the league announced it had officially changed the name of the organization to Bear City Roller Derby.{{cite web|title=Berlin Bombshells become Bear City Roller Derby|url=http://bearcityrollerderby.com/en/berlin-bombshells-wird-zu-bear-city-roller-derby/|publisher=Bear City Roller Derby|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811195450/http://bearcityrollerderby.com/en/berlin-bombshells-wird-zu-bear-city-roller-derby/|archive-date=11 August 2016|date=11 July 2016}}

{{update section|date=October 2023}}

Image:Berlin Bombshells logo.png

Image:Bear City Roller Derby logo 2016.jpg

In October 2010, the league was accepted as an apprentice member of the WFTDA."[http://wftda.com/news/apprentice-program-welcomes-10-new-leagues-october-2010 WFTDA Apprentice Program Welcomes 10 New Leagues] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517121101/http://wftda.com/news/apprentice-program-welcomes-10-new-leagues-october-2010 |date=2014-05-17 }}", WFTDA, 5 October 2010 By May 2011, it had more than 60 skaters."[http://www.maerkischeallgemeine.de/cms/beitrag/12084937/63529/Rollschuhfahren-mal-anders-Seit-drei-Jahren-spielen-Frauen.html Rollschuhfahren mal anders: Seit drei Jahren spielen Frauen aus Berlin und dem Umland „Rollerderby“]", Märkische Allgemeine, 14 May 2011 {{in lang|de}}

In March 2012, Bear City Roller Derby became the WFTDA’s first full member league in continental Europe.{{cite web |url=http://wftda.com/news/new-members-march-2012 |title=WFTDA Welcomes 14 New Member Leagues - Latest News - Women's Flat Track Derby Association |publisher=Wftda.com |date=2012-03-01 |access-date=2016-07-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518172451/https://wftda.com/news/new-members-march-2012 |archive-date=2016-05-18 }}

In 2014, Bear City competed at the WFTDA Division 2 Playoffs in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario,{{cite web|last1=Rivert|first1=Christine|title=Derby gals invade Waterloo|url=http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/4775384-derby-gals-invade-waterloo/|publisher=Waterloo Region Record|access-date=27 July 2016|date=23 August 2014}} where they placed second to Rideau Valley Roller Girls.{{cite web|title=August 22-24: Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada - Women's Flat Track Derby Association|url=https://wftda.org/tournaments/2014/kitchener-waterloo|website=wftda.org|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=12 December 2016}} This playoff appearance was the first in WFTDA history by a team from continental Europe.{{cite web|title=Rideau Valley Makes WFTDA History at Thrilling D2 Tournament in Kitchener-Waterloo|url=https://derbynerd.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/rideau-valley-makes-wftda-history-at-thrilling-d2-tournament-in-kitchener-waterloo/|publisher=Derby Nerd|access-date=27 July 2016|date=27 August 2014}} Later that year they made their debut at the 2014 WFTDA Championships,{{cite web|last1=Frye|first1=Andy|title=Why Stars Are Coming And Going During Roller Derby's Global Boom|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/athletes-life/story/_/id/11795542/why-stars-coming-going-roller-derby-global-boom|publisher=ESPN|access-date=27 July 2016|date=31 October 2014}} where they placed third in Division 2.{{cite web|title=WFTDA 2014 D1 & D2 Playoffs & Championships|url=https://wftda.com/tournaments/2014|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=27 July 2016}} In 2015, Bear City returned to Division 2 Playoffs in Detroit,{{cite web|last1=Murdoch|first1=Robin|title=Women's 2015 roller derby playoffs in Dearborn Heights this weekend|url=http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/13286572-story|publisher=FOX 2 Detroit|access-date=27 July 2016|date=28 August 2015}} entering as the tenth seed and finishing in sixth place.{{cite web|title=D2 Playoffs Detroit, MI Aug 28-30|url=https://wftda.com/tournaments/2015/detroit|publisher=WFTDA|access-date=27 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808233136/https://wftda.com/tournaments/2015/detroit|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2016 Bear City again qualified for Division 2 Playoffs as the eighth seed in Lansing, Michigan, and finished in fifth place with a 177-153 victory over Tri-City Roller Derby.{{cite web|title=D2L 5th Place: #8 Bear City wins rematch against #9 Tri-City, 177-153|url=http://www.derbycentral.net/2016/08/d2l-5th-place-8-bear-city-wins-rematch-against-9-tri-city-177-153/|publisher=Derby Central|access-date=12 December 2016|date=28 August 2016}}

Bear City again qualified for the Division 2 Playoffs and Championship in 2017 as the #14 seed in Pittsburgh, losing their opening game to Paris Rollergirls 205-152.{{cite web|last1=Khaos|first1=Merry|title=#3 Paris Rollergirls Beat #14 Bear City in their First Playoff, 205-152|url=http://www.derbycentral.net/2017/08/3-paris-rollergirls-beat-14-bear-city-in-their-first-playoff-205-152/|publisher=Derby Central|access-date=5 January 2018|date=18 August 2017}} Bear City rebounded with a 275-253 win in overtime against Pirate City Rollers,{{cite web|last1=Fristoe|first1=Chelsea|title=#14 Bear City Claws Past #10 Pirate City, 275-253|url=http://www.derbycentral.net/2017/08/14-bear-city-claws-past-10-pirate-city-275-253/|publisher=Derby Central|access-date=5 January 2018|date=19 August 2017}} followed by a 207-187 loss to E-Ville Roller Derby.{{cite web|title=#15 E-Ville rises over Bear City, 207-187|url=http://www.derbycentral.net/2017/08/15-e-ville-rises-over-bear-city-207-187/|publisher=Derby Central|access-date=5 January 2018|date=19 August 2017}} On day 3 Bear City fell 176-155 to Ohio Roller Derby to finish in tenth place.{{cite web|title=2017 WFTDA D2 Tournaments: Pittsburgh Central|url=http://www.derbycentral.net/2017/08/2017-wftda-d2-tournaments-pittsburgh-central/|publisher=Derby Central|access-date=5 January 2018|date=26 August 2017}} At the 2018 WFTDA Playoffs in Atlanta, Bear City was the twelfth seed and ended their weekend with a tight consolation round victory over Queen City Roller Girls, 218-212.{{cite web |title=2018 Playoffs Atlanta Game 10: Bear City vs. Queen City – WFTDA |url=https://wftda.com/2018-playoffs-atlanta-game-10-bear-city-vs-queen-city/ |website=wftda.com |publisher=WFTDA |access-date=23 January 2019 |date=22 September 2018}}

• CR = consolation round

• {{Official website|http://bearcityrollerderby.com}}

{{WFTDA Division 2}}

Category:Roller derby leagues in Germany

Category:Sport in Berlin

Category:Roller derby leagues established in 2008

Category:Women's Flat Track Derby Association Division 2

Category:2008 establishments in Germany

Category:Women in Berlin