20th December 2008
Mitchell Grinsted wasted no time is justifying a new sponsorship from Pete Evans Roofing by winning back to back West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation Silver Waistcoat tour events. This time he beat Chris Batey 2-0. The event was held at Rileys Snooker Club, Plymouth. Grinsted started the final in blistering form taking the first frame with breaks of 31 followed by a 72. Batey fought back in the second from needing three snookers only to see Grinsted pot pink and black to take the frame and match. In the semi final Batey was consistent in beating Will Blackmore (Exeter) 2-0. Grinsted beat Mark Green (Salisbury) 2-1. Both players potted well and it was only the unlucky roll of the balls that separated them with Grinsted taking full advantage with great long potting. The quarter finals pitched Tom Vanstone against Grinsted. Vanstone played well all day but found Grinsted's potting too hot to handle losing 2-0. Green made light work in beating potting machine Dan Hine (Exeter) 2-0. Bronze player Cody Hall made Batey dig deep and fight all the way for his win. Blackmore made a fine 39 break in his 2-0 win against fellow Exeter Bronze player Jay Bullen.

The group stages produced the best breaks of the day the best in group D, a 77 by Blackmore. Blackmore won the group wining all his matches. Vanstone finished in second place edging out Dale Branton and up and coming Adam Lewin. Batey was undefeated in group C but was pushed very hard in a tough battle against Hine, Batey posting a fine 66 break to win the match. Hine the other player to qualify. In group B in-form Bullen made his experience tell in winning the group with Hall taking second spot by beating Plymouth Bronze champion Haydon Pinhey. Green won group A wining all his matches without reply. Grinsted took second place posting breaks of 52,51,33 & 30.

Details of this tour and other tournaments which are organised by the West of England Billiards & Snooker Foundation can be found on websf.co.uk or by contacting Roger Cole Mobile 07850882770.

Report by Wayne Branton