Robbie started racing with HDCC when he was 18 years old. He lived at Edgeworth at the time and used to see a group of cyclists on their way to racing at Killingsworth. One day he decided to join them.
Robbie showed from early on that he was no slouch when it came to racing, often riding away on hills or showing surprising speed in sprints at the finish.
He rode many cycle classics including Grafton to Inverell, Goulburn to Sydney and Muswellbrook to Tamworth and performed very well in these long endurance events. He also won club titles (surprising the more experienced riders). It was good to see Robbie's relaxed approach to the cycling classics, often stopping to eat sandwiches which he carried in his jersey pockets.
Robbie had a nickname of “Rattles” because on the Sunday training rides around the Valley he always carried an assortment of tools and coins in his back pockets which made a rattling noise over the rough roads and bridges.
Robbie was volunteering his invaluable help to HDCC more than racing in the last years, and he won the Newcastle Sports Award for volunteer of the year in 2008.
He also had an interest in cricket and golf and a lot of ability in both. You would quite often see him hitting a ball into the bush with his favourite golf club before organising the clubs race equipment.
Robbie was a life member of HDCC and was on the board of the Newcastle Velodrome Trust.
Robbie was a friend to all and we will all miss him greatly.