Nicholas Beaumont

A local roller derby team will take on players from Glasgow at an event at Newark Showground on September 24.

The event, 28 Wheels Later, will see the Lincolnshire Bombers hoping to roll to victory against the Glasgow Roller Girls in their last open bout of 2011.

Roller derby is a full contact sport, played primarily by women on quad skates, and involves a combination of speed skating and formation skating.

Bomber Anna-Marie Thomas explained: “Simply put, each team has 4 blockers and a jammer.

“The blockers of both teams skate together in a pack, and the jammers score points by skating through the pack without incurring penalties.

“There are lots of complicated rules, but it is fun to watch even for people who don’t know them.”

Despite Roller Derby’s famed roughness, Thomas stressed it isn’t as bad as the hype. “It can be really rough on track and it is physically demanding, but no more than other sports such as rugby or hockey.

“I personally have only suffered one injury in the 2 and half years I have skated with the Bombers. I hurt my knee but it was only a pulled muscle.”

Final bout

Thomas explained that the team have not played Glasgow before but are quite excited to be up against them.

“Their team includes members from Team Scotland, the Scottish entrant to the Roller Derby World Cup in December, so we expect it to be a tough match.”

The girls are keen to encourage families to come along, with free entry for children under 12 and half time games for the audience to get involved with.

There will also be stalls set up selling clothes, merchandise, jewellery and roller-girl-made cupcakes.

The Lincolnshire Bombers were founded in March 2008 by their captain, She’za Payne.

The team recently became an apprentice to the WFTDA — the international governing body for female roller derby.

As an apprentice league, they will be mentored by an experienced team, and so can easily gain expertise in such areas as coaching and training.

“After a period as an apprentice league we will have the opportunity to become full members, and that will allow us to be involved in the WFTDA run tournaments it currently holds annually in America,” Thomas explained.

The match against Glasgow will start at 2pm. To buy tickets or find out more about the Bombers, visit their website.

Sometimes the only cure for a stressful week is to grab a book, set out to a friendly café, and spend the day relaxing with a cup of tea. To help you forget those weekday blues, here are our top five places to grab a good cuppa in Lincoln.

Stokes of Lincoln

First established in 1902, Stokes has had over 100 years of experience brewing delicious blends of coffees and teas. Located in a quaint old 16th century building, it is built upon the Medieval High Bridge, and offers a great view of the river Witham. A pot of tea for one will set you back £1.30, but a range of specialties from Assam to Darjeeling tea are also available, starting at £2.05. With a cozy interior, and pleasant light jazz playing in the background, this is a perfect place to relax and watch the swans float past. A full list of teas and coffees can be found on its website.

Oliver’s

If you can’t bear the thought of trekking up Steep Hill, Oliver’s may be the perfect place for you. Located just before Straits Brasserie Restaurant, the downstairs boasts a bright and cheerful cream interior adorned with French Impressionist paintings, with tables next to the window perfect for people-watching. There is also a more enclosed space upstairs, great for a intimate gathering, as well as for admiring the café’s charming timber-framed architecture. A cup of tea will cost you £1.30, with an extra 10p allowing you to choose from delicious green and lemon varieties.

The Grove

Slightly further uphill (18 Steep Hill), the trip to The Grove is definitely worth it. A small, quiet café, The Grove’s long, narrow shaped interior ensures plenty of nooks and corners to settle into, with a dark green colour scheme that creates an instantly cozy ambiance. Your basic cuppa is £1.90, which is very reasonable considering the generous portions. And that’s not to mention the wide variety of homemade cakes and ice creams on offer. The combination of friendly staff, charming crockery, and walls decorated with work by local artists, make The Grove a winner.

10 Green Bottles

Situated on Clasketgate, this is the most out-in-the-open café on our list. 10 Green Bottles stands right next to the Theatre Royal, allowing customers to flow directly between. Traditional and Earl Grey teas will cost you £1.40, with speciality fruit teas starting at just 20p more. A bright and friendly café, the upstairs is especially well furnished with comfy black and red chairs, and cream walls that really enhance the light and space. Whether you fancy a refreshment during a play’s interval, or you just want to unwind whilst watching Lincoln’s traffic shoot past, 10 Green Bottles does not disappoint. The website can be found here.

Pimento Tea Rooms

Perched at the very top of Steep Hill, Pimento’s selection of teas are supplied by Imperial Teas of Lincoln, just nearby. Prices start at £2.10, and include a huge variety, from Chinese and Taiwanese tea, to herbal and wholefruit infusions. Connoisseur teas are also available at a slightly more expensive £3.30. Despite its large size, the café is spread over a dozen rooms, the narrow corridors and winding stairs providing a homely feel, full of clinking cutlery and buzzing conversation. It’s also located just behind a shop – a perfect place to relax after a spending spree.

Photos: Kelly Moore for The Lincolnite | Main Photo: Narisa Spaulding