| Adding up to an awesome force of agility, skill and energy on and off track, accountant Leisha Smith or Happy Killmore as she’s known in the derby world, answers our questions here; What is your derby name? Happy Killmore. Please explain the inspiration and story behind your derby name. I was after a happy name, not the traditional scary or tough names that were around when I started derby. They wouldn’t have suited me anyway; everyone just calls me Happy. |  |
What is your number?
717 – After some time in the Military I realised that long term I wanted to be where my family was and so left while I was still young enough to retrain in another field and 717 is the military departure number. It suits me.
Quote.
Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen.
What is your position of choice?
I like all of them, but I mainly Pivot, and would definitely rather be blocking over jamming. Everyone should jam every now and again though, it makes you appreciate and look after your own jammers more and always reminds me that I need to get to the gym more!
What is your skate gear of choice?
Pinkgear.
717 – After some time in the Military I realised that long term I wanted to be where my family was and so left while I was still young enough to retrain in another field and 717 is the military departure number. It suits me.
Quote.
Losers make excuses, Winners make it happen.
What is your position of choice?
I like all of them, but I mainly Pivot, and would definitely rather be blocking over jamming. Everyone should jam every now and again though, it makes you appreciate and look after your own jammers more and always reminds me that I need to get to the gym more!
What is your skate gear of choice?
Pinkgear.
 | Do you have a pre-bout ritual? I pack sugar lollies and a banana in my skate bag for the game, & a couple of beers in my chilly bag for after the game. What do you think about when you're lacing up your skates? OMG where are the rest of these shorts! Actually strangely enough the uniform is growing on me. Umm I think about our first line up and where we will be on the track, different scenarios, who the other team might put out first up, and about the other teams, their strengths/weaknesses etc. .. What has been your best derby moment? Probably last year’s Derby Royale in Palmy. For me it just felt like so much fell into place for our team, and I still think it was a real turning point for BCR. Plus we got to play our Tartan sisters from the South Island, the Gallow Lasses! |
How did you get involved with roller derby?
By being in the completely wrong place at the right time. Was meant to be in Brisbane but ended up in Wellington for the weekend when they had a bout on. Long story short, was the first time I had ever heard about derby, watched Whip It, HAD to give it a go, so looked up if there was a team in Hawke’s Bay as soon as I got back from Brisbane.
Can you talk a bit about your Freshmeat (first year) year and how you learned to play roller derby?
I joined BCR in September 2010 which seems like a lifetime ago, derby has come a long way in NZ since then and so much has changed. It was mostly skating skills and endurance focused, which was great and I felt completely ready to play by the time our first bout came along exactly a year later. Wow there was so much we didn’t know back then! It would be a crack up to go back and watch us at that game now. We did win though, by 4 points, yusssssssss.
You made a swift journey from Fresh Meat to the All Stars! What training and/or other motivation helped you along your speedy path to the top level of play?
Our first public home bout I spent a lot of time in the bin, it frustrated the hell out of me not knowing why so I became kind of obsessed with learning the rules. They are such a big part of derby, far more so than any other sport I’ve played. I attended all the training camps I possibly could and I try and keep a moderate level of fitness too. I am definitely no fitness freak, but the fitter I am the more I enjoy my sports and it is my attempt at keeping injury free.
By being in the completely wrong place at the right time. Was meant to be in Brisbane but ended up in Wellington for the weekend when they had a bout on. Long story short, was the first time I had ever heard about derby, watched Whip It, HAD to give it a go, so looked up if there was a team in Hawke’s Bay as soon as I got back from Brisbane.
Can you talk a bit about your Freshmeat (first year) year and how you learned to play roller derby?
I joined BCR in September 2010 which seems like a lifetime ago, derby has come a long way in NZ since then and so much has changed. It was mostly skating skills and endurance focused, which was great and I felt completely ready to play by the time our first bout came along exactly a year later. Wow there was so much we didn’t know back then! It would be a crack up to go back and watch us at that game now. We did win though, by 4 points, yusssssssss.
You made a swift journey from Fresh Meat to the All Stars! What training and/or other motivation helped you along your speedy path to the top level of play?
Our first public home bout I spent a lot of time in the bin, it frustrated the hell out of me not knowing why so I became kind of obsessed with learning the rules. They are such a big part of derby, far more so than any other sport I’ve played. I attended all the training camps I possibly could and I try and keep a moderate level of fitness too. I am definitely no fitness freak, but the fitter I am the more I enjoy my sports and it is my attempt at keeping injury free.
| What advice do you have for girls who want to join roller derby? Get in there and give it a go, what have you got to lose! If you don’t fall in love with the game, you will fall in love with the amazing people that are a part of it. Who are your derby heroes? Bonnie Thunders! But who doesn’t love that woman? She is amazing, crazy skilled. How would you describe your derby playing style? I enjoy the strategic side of the game the most and then the physical side and I think I play that way too. I love to chase and try and predict what the jammer is going to do next. But don’t get me wrong I do love hitting! Early on, an out of town coach told me that I was hit happy and it kind of stuck with me (I have since realised why - it can be really satisfying to give a great hit), but early on it derby it was the only strategy we knew! |  |
What is your pre-derby sports/skating background?
Other than hanging out at Skateworld as a young(er) girl I don’t really have a skating background, however I am a bit of a sports addict and have had a go at most sports including squash, touch, canoe polo, soccer, hockey, softball, but mainly netball and volleyball. I also played rugby for about 12 years so find the comparison of derby to rugby on skates interesting. Derby is way harder!!
What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments on or off the track?
Surviving a full year as Head of Coaching. The fastest way to learn stuff is by having to teach it.
You’ve just had a public bout locally, how did it go?
The 27th of July’s Skate, Battle and Roll baby - we hadn’t played Wanganui before so it’s always good to face a new team, and to take away a win in front of our home crowd was great. We only have two fully public home bouts a year and they’re always exciting.
Other than hanging out at Skateworld as a young(er) girl I don’t really have a skating background, however I am a bit of a sports addict and have had a go at most sports including squash, touch, canoe polo, soccer, hockey, softball, but mainly netball and volleyball. I also played rugby for about 12 years so find the comparison of derby to rugby on skates interesting. Derby is way harder!!
What are some of your greatest roller derby accomplishments on or off the track?
Surviving a full year as Head of Coaching. The fastest way to learn stuff is by having to teach it.
You’ve just had a public bout locally, how did it go?
The 27th of July’s Skate, Battle and Roll baby - we hadn’t played Wanganui before so it’s always good to face a new team, and to take away a win in front of our home crowd was great. We only have two fully public home bouts a year and they’re always exciting.
 | What is your day job? And how, if at all, has it contributed to your experience of roller derby? I’m an Accountant. I guess the track and the office are quite different. One of the girls (who is a librarian) said to me the other day, ‘people must watch us play and think we’re a pack of tough crazies but really we’re all just accountants and librarians’ It wasn’t those exact words, as she is much more articulate than I am, but it’s so true. I don’t think you have to be any particular kind of stereotype to play roller derby, it appeals to different people in different ways. Is there anyone that you would like to send a special thank you to? Oooo yes that would have to be Skate and Bella for coming up with the idea to start a roller derby team, and hence founding the Bay City Rollers! BCR has been such a big part of my life for the last 3 years, it has been so so much fun and am surrounded by amazing, amazing people. Love ya’s! |
