Mel-icious on Texas roll

TOUGH GIG: Mel McGhie (Mel-icious Mayhem) is heading toward the rough and tumble of roller derby on the world stage.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 280114WCBRCROLL03

Wanganui roller derby skater Mel McGhie has gone from novice to national prominence in just three years after being named in the New Zealand squad to prepare for the World Cup in Texas this year.

Just three years ago, McGhie admits, she was one of the white-knuckle brigade clinging to the railings in an effort to remain upright as she learned to skate at the Hatrick St roller rink.

Once she gained confidence and began moving at pace on eight wheels, she joined the fledgling River City Rollers to battle it out on the boards in the rough and tumble world of roller derby. She bravely renamed herself Mel-icious Mayhem for game time.

Within a relatively short time, and with limited match experience, McGhie was named captain for the River City Rollers during much of last year's competition while also filling the head coach role.

And when the call went out for skaters to try out for the New Zealand squad at three main centres late last year, McGhie put her skates on and travelled to Wellington in December.

"It was a long day, with the trial going from 9am to 4pm when we were put through our paces," McGhie said.

"We were tested on the rules, game strategies, off-skate and on-skate protocols and we each underwent interviews. There was a bit of work involved."

Obviously she made an impression and was named in the 30-strong Team New Zealand Development Squad to train this year for the 2014 Roller Derby World Cup in Dallas, Texas, from December 4-7.

An in-home educator for Porse, McGhie will travel to train once a month at venues throughout the country in the hope of making the final 20 who will ultimately represent the country in Texas.

"I was absolutely stunned and a bit overwhelmed to be chosen for the national squad," she said.

"To think that just three years ago I was hanging on to the rail at the Hatrick St rink just to stand up and now I'm mixing it with some of the best roller derby girls in the country - it's amazing," McGhie said.

While roller derby is a spectacular sport to watch, it is a relatively low-profile code in New Zealand.

Only one league in the country is affiliated and meets the criteria to compete at Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA)-sanctioned events around the globe - and that's in Auckland.

"New Zealand, I think, has only competed in the World Cup once and that was in 2011. We only have one league affiliated to the WFTDA and that's in Auckland and we also have two apprentice leagues - one in Wellington, the other also in Auckland," McGhie said.

"The New Zealand Roller Derby Association is very new and was only set up in the last six months.

"Ideally, they want to take a team of 20 to the World Cup in Dallas and I'll be working hard to make that team."