Dale Branton – Plymouth Champion 2004/05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Ranking 2004-05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour – Event 1
(Victoria Snooker Centre, Plymouth)
DANIEL BELLAMY WINS BRONZE
Report
9th October 2004
The first tournament of the eagerly awaited junior Bronze Waistcoat Tour, for under 15yr olds commenced at the Victoria Snooker Centre on Saturday 9th October. The standard of play throughout the tournament was very high and ended with a closely contested final between Daniel Keane and Daniel Bellamy the former wining 2-0 in the final. Both frames were decided on the black.
In the group stages 12yr old Dale Branton shone, showing the maturity of a player far advanced of his age, winning all of his matches to finish top of his group. Other notable performances came from 14yr old Paul Johnson and the youngest player on the tour. 9yr old Dylan Chilcott. Dylan narrowly failed to reach the semi-finals after a three way tie. Full details can be found on the Bronze Waistcoat Results page.
Tour Manager Steve Brookshaw said “the standard of play and the competitive edge shown by all of the players was a credit to all of the boys and it was nice to see all the players supporting the final”. “We can all look forward to the second tour which will be held at Rileys Snooker Club on November 13th.”
The Junior Bronze Waistcoat tour has developed as a result of the highly successful Silver Waistcoat tour run last season. Both are promoted and managed by the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation. The Bronze Waistcoat tour will also be held at venues in Falmouth, Exeter & Redruth. There are 60 plus registered players competing in a series of tournaments over a seven month period for the coveted title of West of England Bronze Waistcoat Champion.
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Event 1 Results 2004-05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour – Event 2
(Rileys, Plymouth)
DANIEL KEANE WINS BRONZE
Report
13th November 2004
This the second Plymouth Bronze Junior Waistcoat Tournament which was held at Rileys Snooker Club was won by 14 year old Daniel Bellamy. Daniel defeated 12 year old Jacob Stokes in the final. For Daniel this was his second consecutive final and lifted the title in style. An excellent response to losing in the November final. In the group stages he only lost two of matches one of these to the very promising Dillion Chilcott who is only 9 years old.
One player to look out for in the future is 13 year old Dale Branton the youngster is already beginning to show great promise and it wont be to long before he also wins a tournament.
Paul Johnson who just keeps missing out is another player who will soon turn the disappointment of defeat into success in the championships.
Alex Thompson who keeps on trying ever month must be a strong contender for the sportsman of the championships “keep going Alex you can only improve”.
Let’s not forget Jacob Stokes who put in a tremendous performance to reach his first final and in doing so beat of the strong challenge of the October winner Daniel Keane. Daniel was tipped to be the first player to win back-to-back tournaments.
Report by Roger Cole
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Event 2 Results 2004-05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour – Event 3
(Victoria Snooker Centre, Plymouth)
DANIEL BELLAMY WINS
Report
4th December 2004
Dale Branton won the third Plymouth Bronze Waistcoat tour of the season with a fine display of potting. Dale showed great courage to beat Daniel Keane, a previous tour winner, 2-0 with devastating potting and accuracy in clearing the colours to take each frame.
Dale qualified by winning all his group matches including beating Daniel Keane. Daniel qualified from his group after winning a three way tie against Daniel Bellamy and Ashley Negus.
Other performances of note came from Paul Johnson, who won all his group fixtures before losing in the semi-final to Daniel Keane. Jacob Stokes put up a great fight before losing in the semi-finals to the winner Dale Branton.
Tour manager Steve Brookshaw said “The standard of the bronze tour is improving all the time. Some of the potting is top draw and when the players learn better control the cue ball, which will come with time, it’s only a matter of time before they start to knock in notable breaks.”
Report by Keith Millard
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Event 3 Results 2004-05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour – Event 4
(Victoria Snooker Centre)
BRANTON TASTES VICTORY
No Report
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Event 4 Results 2004-05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour – Event 5
(Victoria Snooker Centre)
PAUL JOHNSON OUT PLAYS BRANTON
Report
19th February 2005
The 5th bronze event of the season held at the Victoria Snooker Centre, Plymouth was won by Paul Johnson. Paul beat Dale Branton 2-0 in the final. Paul outplayed Dale in all departments with some great long potting which paid dividends. Pauls win is his first in the series and has been threatening to come good for some time.
In the semi-final Paul defeated Rileys player 9yr old Dillon Chilcott 2-0. Paul needed the last three colours to defeat Dillon. Dillon, himself a prolific potter and a star of the future will be shortly travelling to Woking, Surrey to play in the E.A.S.B. Under 11 tournament, we wish him well.
The other semi-final saw Dale defeat Dan Bellemy 2-0. Both players had won Bronze events this season and the experience showed with this being a hard fought match, the frames being closer than the score line reveals.
Group stages
Group 1
Dillon Chilcott won this group without losing a match, although he did draw with fellow qualifier Dan Bellemy who finished second in the group. Alex Thompson deserves a mention for his commitment to the game. Alex recorded his best result to date with a draw against semi-finalist Dan Bellemy, lets hope this is a spring board for better things to come!
Jacob Stokes finished third and just failed to qualify. Jacob, who receives coaching on Saturday mornings at the Victoria Snooker Centre, is probably the most improved player at the coaching school and is knocking on the door for better results.
Group 2
Dale Branton cruised through this group without dropping a frame. Dale is gaining invaluable experience in these tournaments as well as the local leagues; he also will be a force in the future. Dale made the highest break of the day a 27. Runner up in this group was the eventual winner Paul Johnson who played better as the tournament progressed. Another former event winner Daniel Keane was a bit disappointing and by his own admission had not practiced hard enough for this months competition. However, Daniel did win the plate competition against Ashley Negus. Ashley played quite solid and when he concentrates he plays the snooker that his Coach knows he is capable of.
Report by Keith Millard
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Event 5 Results 2004-05
Bronze Waistcoat Tour – Event 6
(Victoria Snooker Centre, Plymouth)
BRANTON CHAMPION OF PLYMOUTH
Report
12th March 2005
13yr old Dale Branton was crowned Champion of Plymouth after winning his second WEBSF Bronze Waistcoat Tour of the season. Branton defeated his closest rival Daniel Bellamy 2-0 in the final.
The event which was held at the Victoria Snooker Centre, St. Budeaux, was a very close affair with both players needing to win to take the title. It was a bitter blow for Bellamy who had come through his group stages without losing a match, which included a 2-0 defeat of Branton.
Branton’s revenge was sweet and a testament to his composure, knowing that he had already lost to Bellamy and, if he was to lose again would have handed Bellamy the title. Branton did not disappoint and drew on his experience to pass the winning line.
In the semi-final stages Branton outplayed Jacob Stokes 2-0 with the help of a 25 break. The other semi-final saw Bellamy have a hard task taking on last months’ winner Paul Johnson, Johnson put up a brave fight but eventually succumbed to the pressure, Bellamy running out a 2-1 winner.
Group Stages
Group 1 was won by the up and coming Jacob Stokes. He finished his group undefeated dropping only one frame to the dynamic potter, Dylan Chilcott. Chilcott suffering with a cold, struggled to produce the standard of snooker which he is capable of. Group runner-up Paul Johnson is growing in self belief after winning his first tournament last month. Daniel Keane failed to qualify this time was struggling to find his form. Keane is a previous tour winner and was one of the favourites to lift the title at the start of the season.
Group 2 was a two horse race with Daniel Bellamy coming out on top without dropping a frame. Dale Branton was the other qualifier. These two were too strong on the day for Ashley Negus and Alex Thompson. Negus and Thompson couldn’t quite match their opponents but are improving with experience and will have their day for sure.
Steve Brookshaw, Tournament Director, said “Branton showed composure and courage in winning this tournament today. He has gained a lot of experience this season, which included winning the deciding frame for Plymouth in the Devon County Youth Cup final. Branton also finished runner-up in the Devon Under 16 section and has just recently recorded his highest break to date (61). This level of competition is crucial for Branton who regularly practises with his father, Wayne Branton recent winner of the inaugural WEBSF Gold Waistcoat Tour event to make it a family double”.
Branton Jnr. will now compete in May for the title of West of England Bronze Champion against the other Bronze Waistcoat winners in the region.
Report by Keith Millard
Bronze Waistcoat Tour Plymouth Event 6 Results 2004-05
Dale Branton – 37,25
WEBSF 