WBSN Members Compete in the 54th Andrews Atkins Shield

This weekend saw several members of the Women’s Billiards and Snooker Network Incorporated take part in one of the most historic tournaments in Australian cue sports — the 54th Andrews Atkins Shield, held at the Brunswick Club.

The Andrews Atkins Shield is a snooker and billiards challenge between Victoria and Tasmania, and is recognised as one of the longest running official cue sports tournaments in Australia. The event began through the friendship of two great mates — Andrews from Victoria and Atkins from Tasmania — whose shared passion for the game created a competition that has endured for more than five decades.

What started as a friendly contest between two states has grown into a respected annual tradition. The Shield has always been about more than results on the scoreboard — it represents the spirit of cue sports, built on sportsmanship, camaraderie and mateship.

Across generations, players have travelled between Victoria and Tasmania to represent their state and add their names to the history of the Shield. The tournament continues to stand as a reminder of the strong community that exists within Australian snooker and billiards.

This year, three of our female WBSN members proudly took part in the event:

• Shelly Ames

• Kylie Bellinger

• Julie Watson

Their participation reflects the growing visibility of women competing across all areas of cue sports and continuing to be part of the sport’s traditions and history.

For the Women’s Billiards and Snooker Network Incorporated, seeing members compete in historic events like the Andrews Atkins Shield reinforces the organisation’s mission — ensuring women are present, visible and competing across the full landscape of snooker and billiards.

We congratulate Shelly, Kylie and Julie on their participation and thank the Brunswick Club for hosting another chapter in one of Australia’s enduring cue sports traditions.