History of LondonSkaters Speed Team

In June 2002, a group of skaters went to France to take part in the Le Mans 24-hour Roller, a 24-hour team relay race on the same track used by the motor racing endurance event. Everyone that went enjoyed the experience of going over to the continent and participating in a major event with thousands of other skaters so much, that it was decided to form a team who’s main aim was to attend as many international marathons and endurance races as possible. Team E2XN London was started.

In the remainder of 2002, skaters went to events in Dijon (French Inline Cup), Frankfurt and Vienna. In 2003 team members participated in marathons and other events held in Bonn, Hamburg, Rouen, Duisberg, Lille, Le Mans, St Gallen, Dijon, Cologne, Berlin, Vienna, and of course various events in England.

Every skater in Team E2XN improved their personal bests in 2003, and the team had some great results, such as the Ladies team obtaining 2nd position in the 2003 Le Mans 24-hour Roller, and Gavin Pollock finishing 3rd in the Open Category in the Lille Half-marathon. Team E2XN also affiliated itself with the Federation of Inline Speed Skating (FISS), and members raced in the FISS track race series during 2003, and in the British Championships track and marathon races.In September 2003, Team E2XNn organised and ran the 1st London Inline Marathon at the Lee Valley Cycle Circuit. This was attended by many recreational and speed skaters, and was amazingly successful. In 2004 the team is expecting it to be bigger and better!

Members attended regular team training sessions during the course of the year, to increase fitness levels and improve technique. Training venues included the track at Tatem Park (Enfield), Hyde Park and Richmond Park. Touristic and recreational activities were also on the agenda such as skating the Voie Verte near Dijon or the old railway path between Bristol and Bath.

2004: The team became associated with LondonSkaters.com and had a change of identity

Team E2XN London and LondonSkaters.com joined forces in order to further promote speed and fitness skating in the capital. The team voted to rename itself to "LondonSkaters Speed Team" as part of efforts to leverage the name and fame of both the team and website.

A New Era

Under the guidance of the coach Adrian Wordsworth the club has reshaped itself to become highly competitive on the British domestic racing scene as well as the International racing scene.

Appointed Team GB Manager and Head Coach in 2019 Adrian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role. Adrian started skating at a very early age over 50 years ago, as his Mother & Father were both speed skaters. His Mum being a GB international skater in the early 1970’s and Dad being a speed skater who went on to have a very successful period as GB Team Manager with 4 individual European champions in his teams in the late 1970’s.

Adrian’s first race came aged 6 in 1971, and he has been an active racer up until 2015, winning the London Inline Marathon in the 50+ age group. Adrian skated for Team GB as a junior in the 1980’s, a senior in the 1990’s and a master in the 2000’s, competing at European championships, World Championships and European cup events. He has won multiple British titles and has been a medalist at all British Championship distances as a junior, senior and master (indoor champs, outdoor champs and marathon) and still holds 5 British records. As a master he was 3 time winner of the Gross Gerau International and had success as team skater/manager with 2 podium placements at Le Mans 24 hour.

Adrian started coaching in the 1990’s, initially as assistant club coach for North London, and has progressed to head coach for North London, LSST, Essex Inline and more recently Bont Project UK, coaching numerous British Champions, British record holders and Team GB members along the way. Adrian has also coached roller derby skaters working with national team skaters from England, Wales, Ireland, Greece, Italy and Sweden. 

This summer Adrain stepped in to the Team GB manager/coach role for our GB development skaters at the Flanders Grand Prix, and again at the European Championships in Pamplona, with great success.