My Story

“If I can transition into and start a new sport (at the age of 59), I know you can too.” Carl Hancock

Sports has always been a part of my life growing up. As a kid I played baseball and football in school. It was helpful to have a brother 5 years older than me who could teach me what he learned in sports and to have someone to practice with. He eventually introduced me to the sport of armwrestling.

My brother, Todd Hancock, 3-time World and National Armwrestling Champion on the right.

I’m on the right competing in an armwrestling tournament.
Our team from the US competing in Canada.

Good match with Oregon State Champion Mike Driscoll on the left.

Tough match with World Champion Clyde Young on the left.
Trophy picture with World Champion Clyde Young on the right.

Nice Match with World Champion Ediel Young on the left, Clyde Youngs brother.

Nice article in the Centralia Chronicle after I won the Washington State Armwrestling Championship at the age of 18.

This was a small tournament I set up for the Strong Arm Association in the Lewis County Mall in Chehalis Washington. I’m pictured in the middle back row with a yellow shirt.

Trophy picture at Can-Am Championships in Nanaimo BC Canada.

I competed in tournaments throughout the United States and Canada for about 11 years and during that time, won Armwrestler of the Year in 1983.

Some of the trophies I won during the first 4 years of competition. I competed for a total of 11 years.

I eventually started helping set-up and promote armwrestling tournaments in Washington with the Strong Arm Association. This led to me starting my own West Coast Armwrestling Association where I conducted over 200 tournaments in Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho for 10 years.
One of many tournaments I refereed.
I was the announcer at all of the tournaments I promoted with the West Coats Armwrestling Association. This tournament was in a mall.
One of my favorite sports was tennis. I played for about 30 years in clubs, outdoors, leagues and tournaments. I also played racquetball during this time.
I also coached boys’ and girls’ tennis for a few years.
And I’ve been known to play a few rounds of mini golf.

As a result of various injuries over the years, I’ve stopped participating in these sports. I went without competing in any sport for a few years until circumstances led me to the sport of Snooker. I’ve played pool in prior years just for fun, but Snooker is different.

I started playing Snooker in the beginning of 2022 on a 5′ x 10′ Snooker table at the Olympic Club in Centralia, Washington as a way of helping me recover from some serious health issues. I looked to snooker as a way of mental and physical therapy and recovery. Although I couldn’t participate in the high impact sports anymore, I could play Snooker.

Toward the end of 2022 and the beginning of 2023, I built a Snooker venue with three 6′ x 12′ Riley Snooker Tables in Rochester, Washington so that I could use my experience as an athlete, coach, referee and promoter to promote the sport of Snooker for other players. We officially opened the doors to In The Pocket Snooker Club on May 8th, 2023. My hope is that there will be others who will join this endeavor and play this wonderful, challenging and sometimes frustrating game of Snooker.

I’m new to this sport and have a lot to learn. With the right coaching, mentoring, practice and experience, I plan on improving my skills and playing this sport as long as I can. So far, we’re off to a good start. If I can transition into and start a new sport (at the age of 59), I know you can too.

What is Snooker?

How to Play Snooker.