15th January 2005

Darran lock (Seaton) won his first Silver Waistcoat tournament with real nerve after making a frame and match winning break of 51 against Plymouthian Grant Cole.

The semi-finals threw together old adversaries, Grant Cole against Darren Bond. Grant won by potting a re spotted black after Darren had made a 33 break. Grant also made breaks of 38 & 32. Darran Lock looked dead and buried against Mike Day. Darran won the first frame, Mike replied with a 37 break in the second to level the match. In the deciding frame Mike had taken an early lead and left Darran needing snooker with one red on the table. Darran got the snooker which Mike failed to escape from. Darran then snookered Mike again which he also failed to hit. Mike snookered, sportingly called a foul & miss on himself which he failed to escape from a further four times bringing Darran right back into the frame. Darran then potted the last red and cleared to the pink to win the match.

The quarter finals really showed the level of snooker these young players are playing in this tournament this season. The best example of this was Adrian Bond against Mike Day. Adrian was 61-0 in front and Mike cleared the table with an excellent 62 to win the frame and the match. Darran Lock comfortably dispensed last months winner Sam Baird with breaks of 53 & 46. Sam Cox lost to Grant Cole who recorded a 40 break. Darren Bond overcame the up-and-coming Cornishman Robert Charman.

Group 1

Grant Cole won Group 1 without losing a match, he made breaks of 49, 42, 41 and a 40. Sam Baird finished second winning 5 of his 7 matches and recording breaks of 64, 58 and a couple 30’s. Adrian Bond qualified with several breaks over 30 and a 43. A player who qualified in only his second tournament and will be one to look out for the future is Robert Charman who made a 66 break. Bobby Southworth failed to qualify after beating last months winner, Sam Baird, in his opening match. Bobby’s best effort of the day was a break of 42. It was good to see Scott Seldon back playing after having to withdraw from the previous tournament. Scott posted breaks of, 38 & 35. Rob Wills was struggling to find his form after having a problem with his tip. Danny Wicks deserves a mention, he never won a match but took a few of the ‘big guns’ to the colours.

Group 2

Mike Day won Group 1 and recorded no fewer than nine breaks over 30 with the best of them being 70. Darren Bond was runner up in the group with a fine display of potting making seven breaks over 30 and two breaks of 66. Local boy Sam Cox qualified with breaks 48 & 45. The final qualifier was Darren Lock with the highest break of the day and tournament thus far, 80 He now takes the title of 'The Breakmaster'. He also knocked in a couple of 30’s for good measure. Ben Pike was unlucky to go out at the first hurdle after making seven breaks over 30 the best being a 46. Sam Edmunds narrowly missed out on qualifing had a good tournament which included the scalp of Mike Day. Sam made three breaks over 30 with the highest being 49. Shane 'Trigger' Treagale failed to reach the knockout stages but made a few breaks over 30, the best being 45. Joel Martin will hope his luck changes after missing out on qualifing. Joel made no note able breaks but three of his matches against the players who qualified went to the deciding frame which could have changed the outlook of this tournament. Danny Bolt is another player who would like his luck to change after losing quite a few matches on the pink and black.

Tournament Director Keith Millard stated "The standard never fails to amaze me, the lads started at 10.30 and the final frame finished at 9pm. In the final the deciding frame included a 51 break and there were another 63 breaks over 30. This is such an exciting tournament; you just cannot pick a winner. It’s great listening to the boys talking about who’s going to win because it changes with every match."

Report by Keith Millard