A RUMPUS of roller derby showdowns will rock Oxford's Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre tomorrow, as it hosts the British championships.

Four teams will battle it out in the season's penultimate match as Oxford Roller Derby sees the championship's tier-three teams including Swansea City, North Wales and Wirral Whipiteres.

There will be two matches where teams of five get their skates on to whizz round the track in a bid to score the most points.

Team member Carol MacLeish, aka Stormy Waters, said: "Every game is a big deal and it is important that we win.

"The season has gone well so far and we have won two games and lost one so we are currently third.

"This will be the penultimate games so if we win this weekend we have the potential of going up to the next division.

"If we win it takes us one step closer to going up which would be amazing."

In each division there are six teams and each host matches throughout the season in a bid to finish top and be promoted to the next league.

This weekend four of the teams will battle it out at Blackbird Leys leisure centre in the aggressive sport.

It involves roller skating around a flat track in teams of five with one designated "jammer" player - whose objective is to overlap opposing players as many times as possible.

Ms MacLeish, who has been part of Oxford Roller Derby for five years added: "It is a very fast-paced sport, often compared to British Bull Dog or touch rugby - in a very loose comparison.

"It is a really fun contact sport and we train really hard.

"There is currently 60 members of Oxford Roller Derby and we have seen attendance grow gradually over the years but lately it has gone a little bit mental which is awesome.

"It is exciting to see the sport becoming more widely known by people."

The British Championships for tier three on Sunday will see Swansea City face North Wales from 2pm then Oxford face Wirral at around 4pm.

People can head along to watch the games unfold and tickets are £7 in advance or £9 on the door.

The result of Sunday's matches will determine where Oxford Roller Derby are placed heading into the final face-off in Sheffield in August.

For more information see oxfordrollerderby.co.uk