Sports is a male dominated world that needs to be equal. Whilst women are making a breakthrough, we need more than just new female athletes, it is also about how women in sports are viewed in the media. As far as we are concerned, there is a lack of publicity and coverage surrounding women in sports, as it’s the only men's football teams and rugby team we hear about in the news. But why? There's amazing sports and sports people out there.

She has become a role model for young girls across the nation

There are many influential women in sports that are inspiring the nation: Maddie Hinch for example is a goalkeeper in field hockey. She played a key role for team GB when saving all four penalties in the shootouts during 2016 Rio Olympics games, where she brought home the gold. After this amazing triumph as team GB won 3 hockey awards Hinch was named Female Goalkeeper of the year. Not only that, but she helps to coach other goalkeepers.  With her breakthrough in sport, she has become a role model for young girls across the nation.

Whilst most sports are male dominated, little known Roller Derby is not one of them. Roller Derby is a contact sport which consists of two team with five people on each team. It has been described as rugby on wheels! Roller Derby is a sport that was brought over from America and has taken off here, even in Newcastle which has its very own team called the Newcastle Roller Girls. They were established in 2009 and they have two teams The Canny Belters and The Whippin’ Hinnies. 

It has been described as rugby on wheels!

To see the Roller Girls in action the EuroClash 2017 will be held in Newcastle on the 25th and 26th of March where 9 teams will play against each other. We hope to be hearing more about it in the media as the event gets closer!

Written by Jessica Goulbourn, Jack Frelford and Liam New from Newcastle UK. 

This was created as part of the Pop Up Newsroom project for International Women's Day on March 8th 2017 #popupiwd #IWD2017