Robbie Chilcott and his wife Heli recently moved to Redcliffe, settling into an apartment 50 metres from the Redcliffe Snooker & Billiards Club. Within four weeks of arriving in Redcliffe, Robbie had joined the “Redcliffe Tigers” team and entered the Queensland State Billiards Championship. Despite limited preparation, he won his first state championship title, at 53 years of age.
A New Chapter in Redcliffe
In January 2024, after a successful battle with skin cancer, Robbie and his wife Heli sold their belongings and embarked on a road trip around Australia, culminating with the fateful move to Redcliffe that helped Robbie achieve a lifelong ambition.
“I felt like an imposter, but I’m here in Queensland to promote and grow the game,” Robbie said in his victory speech. “With talented young players on the rise, I’ll gladly accept the state title while I can.”
Robbie plans to run junior billiard workshops locally and help grow the sport. The Redcliffe Snooker & Billiards Club will host the Queensland Open Billiards Championship in November 2024, featuring world number one Peter Gilchrist.
Robbie expressed his excitement about the event, stating, “There is no other amateur sport in the world where ordinary players have the opportunity to play against and alongside a world champion.”
Early Beginnings in Tasmania
Robbie Chilcott’s journey in cue sports began at 17 at the Ulverstone RSL in Tasmania, where his father Perry worked. Perry would sneak Robbie in during quiet times to practice on the large billiard tables. Robbie’s talent was evident early on when he held his own against experienced players on the smaller 8-ball tables in Strahan, Tasmania. Recognising his son’s potential, Perry encouraged him to hone his skills on full-size billiard tables.
Within five years, Robbie had won the North West Coast of Tasmania title and captained the Tasmanian snooker team in 1993. After moving to Hervey Bay in Queensland, where he met his wife Heli, Robbie stepped away from the game for a few years.
Rising Through the Ranks in Geelong
In 2000, Robbie and Heli moved to Geelong, and he reignited his passion for cue sports. Robbie’s return to the game saw him win multiple Geelong Singles Snooker & Billiards Championships, including 13 consecutive Singles Billiards titles until his departure in early 2024.
A pivotal moment came in 2016 when former Australian Champion David Collins encouraged Robbie to compete in larger competitions. Robbie joined the Victorian Snooker & Billiards Association and played for the Yarraville Club, quickly rising to the top position in his team. He fell in love with billiards, eventually focusing exclusively on this discipline. Since then, he has made three Australian quarter-finals and is currently ranked sixth nationally.
Redcliffe’s community eagerly anticipates Robbie Chilcott’s contributions to local sports and his efforts to inspire the next generation of billiards players.
Published 30-July-2024