Barrie McIntosh – Overall Champion
Gold Waistcoat Tour Ranking Table 2014-15
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 1
(The Plaza Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth)
McIntosh Wins at the First Attempt
Report
22nd November 2014
Event 1 of the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation Gold Waistcoat snooker tour got underway with a win for top Cornish player Barrie McIntosh. This was McIntosh’s first attempt at what has become a leading regional platform for snooker players to test their skills against top opposition. Early on in the tournament, during the round robin stages, two players stood out as being major contenders to take this first event. Alan Tunney (sponsored by Francis Clark Chartered Accountants) from Torbay, with his smooth cue action, went through the card undefeated. He dropped just two frames and made the top two breaks of the day 80 & 83, the latter taking the high break prize. Tunney carried this form into the knock-out stages until he narrowly lost to McIntosh in the semis. The other player that proved dominant was Bristolian Kurtis Weaver. Weaver rapidly disposed of all competition without the loss of a single frame in the round robins making breaks of 47, 50 & 67. It wasn’t until the quarter finals were, faced with Dale Branton (Plymouth), that he was made to sweat. It was an untimely mistake by Branton that gave let Weaver in to take frame and match and progress into the semis. Here he met Alan Hurley from Cornwall. Hurley had a good run in the early stages making breaks of 43,45,55 and two 76’s with the loss of just one match which was to Weaver. After a tough battle Weaver edged it to go into the final against McIntosh. It was fitting that these two in-form players reached the final and after a close match McIntosh came out on top. With only five out of the six tour event ranking points counting for the overall title, all the remaining players are still in with a great chance to be challenging for the title when we get to the end of the season. Once again top West Country Referee Nick Harry was in attendance keeping a watchful eye on proceedings.
WEBSF Tournament Director Darren Hall said, “Looking at the field here today no one player stands out that might run away with the overall title. The two finalists did extremely well given the high standard of matchplay snooker we’ve seen here today. All bodes well for an exciting season.” Any player interested in WEBSF events should contact Steve Canniford, Mobile 07891940995 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook. Thanks to The Plaza Snooker & Pool Club who were very accommodating and sponsored this event.
Report by Steve Canniford
Gold Waistcoat Tour Event 1 Results 2014/15
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 2
(The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth)
Top Players Battle in Quality Final
Report
17th January 2015
Scottish International Eden Sharav came through a tough field of 32 quality players to win event 2 of the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation (WEBSF), Gold Waistcoat snooker tour. His opponent in the final was top Plymouth Snooker & Pool player Darren McVicar, both players putting on quite a show for the spectators at the end of a long day. The tournament got underway at 09:30, finishing some 12 hours later after 273 frames of snooker. After two events quarter-finalist Kurtis Weaver (Bristol) climbs into the top spot in the rankings, ahead of Cornishman Barrie McIntosh who narrowly missed out on qualification for the knock-out stages by a single frame to Dale Branton (Plymouth). Branton Jnr drops one place into fourth after Branton Sen. Wayne, armed with a new cue, produced another consistent performance to reach the quarter-finals. With so many top quality players again this season, it will be consistency that will no doubt prove the deciding factor at the back end of the season. Other players that performed well on the day to reach the knock-out stages were: Semi-finalist Steve Brookshaw (Plymouth) & Darran Lock (Cornwall) and quarter-finalist Andy Neck.
All the big breaks came in the round robin group stages. The best being a superb 110 clearance from McVicar which took the high break prize. Just short of this was contributions from Sharav who posted several breaks on the day, his best being two centuries 106 & 100. Players that fell short of the century whilst in the ‘nervous nineties’: Mitch Grinsted (Plymouth), Kurtis Weaver, Hassan Vaizie (Gloucester) and Andy Neck. All made ninety plus breaks along with their usual string of decent breaks over 40.
WEBSF Tournament Director Darren Hall said, “This event proved as tough as ever today with so many top players in contention. Wayne Branton and Andy Neck looked strong early on, not having lost a match in their respective groups. However, it was Eden Sharav and Darren McVicar that both showed their class in the knock-out stages and put on a quality show in the final.” Any player interested in WEBSF events should contact Steve Canniford, Mobile 07891940995 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook. Thanks to The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club who hosted and sponsored this event.
Report by Steve Canniford
Gold Waistcoat Tour Event 2 Results 2014-15
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 3
(The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth)
Have cue will travel
Report
28th February 2015
At the halfway mark Kurtis Weaver, the latest snooker protégé to emerge from Bristol, and Cornishman Barrie McIntosh lead the West of England Gold Waistcoat Snooker Tour rankings. Just 40 points separate these two who are threatening to pull away from the remaining 45 players. However, the top player on the day was Harvey Chandler from the Windmill Club, Rushden, Northamptonshire. Chandler qualifies to play on the tour as an associate member of the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation due to there not being an equivalent foundation in his area. In the final Chandler defeated, former two times tour champion, Andy Neck from Newton Abbot by a deciding frame in a closely contested match. Neck coasted through the knock-out stages winning all his matches without loss against quality opposition. Whereas Chandler was tested by all his opponents, toughing it out to win by deciding frames. In addition to the top prize, Chandler posted the highest break on the day, a competent 98 along with other breaks of 88, 74, 72 clearance, 60, 58, 54, 43, 43 & 41. Newcomer to the tour and one to watch out for was former professional Eddie Manning who after a 12 year absence from the game reached the semi-finals posting breaks of 91, 90, 50, 49, 44 & 41. Other top players that made it through to the knock-out stages where; Steve Brookshaw, (Plymouth), Jason Simmons, (Truro), Kurtis Weaver and Paul Standen (Bickington).
The round robin group stages where once again closely contested, with several group positions being decided on frame count-back. Players that just missed out on qualifying where; Darran Lock (Seaton), Thomas Lancastle, another emerging Bristol talent, seasoned local amateur Johnny Watters (Plymouth) and the current tour champion Mitchell Grinsted, also from Plymouth.
WEBSF Tournament Director Darren Hall said, “An excellent days work from Harvey Chandler, to win through tough matches against a quality field is testament to his ability and resolve. Kurtis Weaver and Barrie McIntosh too are holding their own and are deserving of their place at the top of the rankings. With three events to go there are still seven players that could lift the prestigious tour title. As the pressure begins to build it will be interesting to see who can hold their nerve. ” Any player interested in WEBSF events should contact Steve Canniford, Mobile 07891940995 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook. Thanks to The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club who hosted and sponsored this event.
Report by Steve Canniford
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 3 Results 2014-15
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 4
(The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth)
Eddie Wins Break-Fest
Report
21st March 2015
Bristol based Kurtis Weaver and Cornishman Barrie McIntosh are still the most consistent players on the West of England Gold Waistcoat Snooker Tour. Weaver reached his second final in a row after edging out McIntosh in the semis by a deciding frame. Both have extended their lead at the top of the rankings but with top players coming into form they may not have it all their own way with two events to go.
There were a total of 76 breaks over 40 made on the day, with event winner Eddie Manning leading the way with a superb 126 to add to runs of 110,94,82,78,78,77,71,63,53,51,52,51,49,44. Manning was in an unforgiving mood, re-kindling the form he showed as a professional some 12 years past. He made light work of punishing every mistake made by his opponents, dropping just 2 frames all day. After a long day of competition players tend to tire in the knockout stages. Manning seemed to find another level wining 5 out of 6 frames with breaks of 51,53,71,78 & 94. In the semis Manning beat the winner of the previous event, Harvey Chandler from Northamptonshire. Chandler is no slouch when it comes to break building neither, posting breaks of 72,57,57,56,49,46,45,43,41 & 41. The third century of the day was made by Scottish International Eden Sharav, who is currently based in Gloucester. He started the break fest with a fine 110. Frame of the day must go to Matt Hullatt against McIntosh. After McIntosh opened the scoring with a fine 62, that should have seen him win the frame, Hullatt responded with an excellent 78 clearance to steal the frame. The remaining qualifiers that lost in the quarter finals were; Dale Branton (Plymouth), who’s best break was 97 and Darren Horsman (Fremington).
WEBSF Tournament Director Darren Hall said, “Today we have seen a terrific display of relentless break building with almost all players making significant contributions. Kurtis Weaver and Barrie McIntosh did well to hold their position at the top of the ranking table but they will no doubt come under pressure from Harvey Chandler and Eddie Manning who are climbing the table at a phenomenal rate. With two events left to play and only counting the best five results from six, it is certainly ‘game on’” Any player interested in WEBSF events should contact Steve Canniford, Mobile 07891940995 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook. Thanks to Plymouth International Nick Harry for Refereeing throughout the day and the Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club who hosted and sponsored this event.
Report by Steve Canniford
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 4 Results 2014-15
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 5
(The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth)
Rogers Master Class
Report
2nd May 2015
Andy Rogers from South Wales may not have set the green baize alight with a host of big breaks. Instead he gave a master class in match play snooker on his way to winning the penultimate event of the 2014/15 West of England Billiards & Snooker Gold Waistcoat Snooker Tour. Rogers posted just two sixty plus breaks as he crafted his way to victory against a host of top players with the loss of just a single frame. In the final Rogers beat Plymouth’s rising star Haydon Pinhey who has recently returned to competitive snooker after short lay-off due to injury. Pinhey’s path to the final was equally as impressive, not only did he drop just one frame, he made breaks of 62,61,45,41 and a superb 119 clearance which took the tournament high break prize. With only one event under his belt Rogers is not a contender for the overall title this season, this is being fought out by three players; Barrie McIntosh (Cornwall) who is currently heading-up the ranking table on 2380 points closely followed by Kurtis Weaver (Bristol) on 2260 points. Eddie Manning (Cornwall) is on 1600 points and in the unlikely event that McIntosh and Weaver failed to show for the final event, mathematically, Manning could steal the silverware. The remaining qualifiers who reached the knockout stage were losing semi-finalists Paul Standen (Devon) & Barrie McIntosh and quarter-finalists, Dan Legassick (Plymouth), Matthew Hulatt (Devon) and Kurtis Weaver.
In the early rounds 50 plus breaks where recorded by: Darren McVicar 55,55 & 73; Steve Brookshaw 50,52 & 87; Eddie manning 52 & 59; Matthew Hulatt 56; Barrie McIntosh 50; Wayne Branton 69; Andy Rogers 62 & 64; Dale Branton 67; Mark Bradley 50; Reece Watters 68; Jason Simons 54; Haydon Pinhey 61 & 62; Paul Standen 78; Thomas Lancastle 54; Neil Chiswell 50 & 58 and Kurtis Weaver 64.
WEBSF Tournament Director Darren Hall said, “Capable of big breaks though he may be, Andy Rogers demonstrated that you can still win tournaments without them if you have a consistent all-round game. He played solid snooker throughout the day and deserved his win. However, the crucial result of today was Barrie McIntosh’s win against Kurtis Weaver in the quarter final. This has given McIntosh a slender lead in the ranking table going into the final event of the season where Weaver will no doubt do his best to reverse the defeat and steal the overall title.“ The next snooker events to be held at The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth are the WEBSF Open ONEFORSEVEN tournament on the 16th May; The Andy Hicks Open Handicap Tournament on the 17th May and the final Gold Waistcoat Event on the 30th May. Any player interested in these events should contact Wayne Branton, Mobile 07980 788484 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook. Thanks to Plymouth International Nick Harry for Refereeing throughout the day and the Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club who hosted and sponsored this event.
Report by Steve Canniford
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 5 Results 2014-15
Gold Waistcoat Tour – Event 6
(The Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, Plymouth)
Pinhey Pips Brookshaw in Close Final
Report
30th May 2015
Barrie McIntosh, snooker hot-shot from Cornwall, has won the prestigious West of England Gold Waistcoat Snooker tour title at the first attempt. After winning event one, at the beginning of the season, he continued to qualify for all but one of the six events, finishing the most consistent player with 2620 points. Second place went to top Bristol player Kurtis Weaver, who was in contention until missing the last event, on 2160 points. Ex professional Eddie Manning, formerly from Leicester and now residing in Cornwall, finished in a creditable third place on 2100 points, despite only entering the last four events. McIntosh joins an elite band of top quality players from the South West region to have won this tour.
The event was won by top Plymouth player Haydon Pinhey, who missed two earlier events due to a broken elbow. In the final he beat fellow Plymothian Steve Brookshaw, who was in great form, dropping just three frames all day to reach the final. Brookshaw finished in fourth place overall. In the semi-finals Pinhey beat Manning, aided by a 77 break.Whilst Brookshaw beat Dean Anderson from Tavistock who played solid matchplay snooker to reach the semis. Losing quarter finalists where Andy Symons (Tavistock), McIntosh, Phil Lane & Darran Lock all from Cornwall. Manning made the best break in the knock-out stages a fine 85.
In the early rounds the breaks over 70 where made by: Symons (72), Andy Rogers, South Wales (98), Pinhey (72) and Manning (92 & 105) which took the highest break prize.
WEBSF Tournament Director Darren Hall said, “With Bristol ace Kurtis Weaver not being able to make this last event, it made things a little easier for McIntosh. However, it requires great effort to win the overall tour title: consistency and stamina along with a good matchplay strategy are some of the key qualities required. McIntosh has proved himself to be a worthy champion, wining at his first attempt, something no-one has achieved in the 10 years of the tour.” The next WEBSF snooker event will be the West of England Bronze Waistcoat Open Snooker Championship for Under 19’s. This is to be held at Jesters Snooker Club, Swindon on the 27th & 28th June 2015. Any junior players interested in entering should contact Wayne Branton, Mobile 07980 788484 or visit http://www.websfsnooker.com or WEBSF Facebook. Thanks to Plymouth International referee Nick Harry for his tireless efforts throughout the day and the Belgrave Snooker & Pool Club, who hosted and sponsored this event.
Report by Steve Canniford
WEBSF 