After the final event of the season Andy Radford from Exeter finished top of the rankings with 3490 points and is therefore crowned West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation, Gold Waistcoat Tour Champion 2006. During his campaign Radford saw off challenges from a quality field of players that boasts some of the best players in the region. Reigning champion and former England International Mike King (Exeter) finished second with 3030 points ahead of Greg Batten (Tiverton) who pipped England International Kris Vincent from Plymouth by just 50 points, 2550 to 2500. These four players put themselves in the frame to be invited to play in a challenge match against the best from the South East Billiards & Snooker Foundation for the ‘Foundation’ Cup in September of this year.

This coveted title is sponsored by the Sunday Independent and organised by the very successful West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation (WEBSF). The high esteem with which those competing place this event was voiced by Radford after receiving the trophy. He said "The WEBSF have injected new life into Snooker throughout the West of England with the Gold, Silver & Bronze tours. I, like many others will look forward to next season when there will be even more competitors taking part." Roger Cole attributed Radford’s victory to a consistent high level of matchplay which saw him qualify for the knock-out stages in all seven events and winning no less than three. Cole said "Radford has set the standard for others to aspire too, he is a great ambassador for snooker and a role model for his peers."

A double victory by winning the final tour event, which was held in Riley’s Exeter, was to elude Radford as the talented youngster from Plymouth, Kris Vincent was to win this event. Vincent overcame the in-form Greg Batten (Tiverton) in the final to post his second Gold Waistcoat Tour event win of the season. It was a close call leading up to the final for Vincent, he only just managed to qualify from his group in forth place at the expense of highly rated Wayne Woodger, Exeter. As often is the case with players just qualifying, Vincent saved his best for the knock-out stages. Against in-form Wayne Branton, Plymouth in the quarter-final he made a fine break of 77 to run out a 2-1 winner. He then repeated this score line against another very talented youngster, Darren Bond form Tiverton in the semi-final.

In the other half of the draw Grant Cole, Plymouth met Radford in the quarter final with Cole, having already posted some of is best results to date in the group stages with a fine 2-0 win over Batten, he was in no mood to be up-staged by Radford beating him 2-1 in a very tight encounter. Batten was to avenge his earlier group stage defeat against Cole in the semi-final with a 2-0 win, both frames being very close. Batten posted breaks of 75 and 53 in a 2-0 win over the much fancied and current champion Mike King, Exeter. In the last quarter final Darren Bond, beat the prolific potter Sam Baird, Halberton by the same margin.

The group matches produced very high standards of play, which has become the norm in these Gold Waistcoat events. No less than three century breaks were posted, the highest being 119 by Radford that secured him the overall title of the ‘Break Master’. Radford added breaks of 101, 63, 65, 56. Batten weighed in with breaks of 115, 93, 62, 58 and 56 and the much improved Baird made breaks of 77, 69, 57, 53, 44, 42 with the remaining field adding a further twenty breaks over 50. Radford finished top of group A with Baird, King and Vincent also qualifying. Adrian Bond, Tiverton and Neil Chiswell, Plymouth both failed to make the qualifying stages this time such was the high standard of play. Group B saw the consistent Wayne Branton, Plymouth come through to take top spot, followed by Batten, Darren Bond, and Vincent.

Spokesperson for the WEBSF Roger Cole, said "Since the formation of the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation in 2004 we have gone from strength to strength delivering quality tournaments with good prizes. This is supported by an excellent coaching programme which complements the very successful Cuestars programme of tournaments and the newly formed South East Billiards & Snooker Foundation SEBSF) covering the whole of the South of England, including London. The latter is to be launched at Woking Snooker Centre, Woking in June of this year by Snooker Professionals and SEBSA Patrons Jimmy White and Stuart Bingham. These latest developments will assist in bringing our sport to a much wider audience and provide equal opportunities for all, particular at grass roots level." Cole went on to inform us that the WEBSF will shortly receive funding from the Devon Community Foundation. He said "This will enable us to provide coaching in the community which will help the WEBSF realised aims, objectives and long term goals, and who knows! we may see a rising snooker star of tomorrow coming through our ranks."

Report by Roger Cole