A SHARP-SHOOTING Pool player’s lightning clearance could bag him a trip to Las Vegas.

Richard Harris, 17, of Darlington, cleared all balls in 36.4 seconds to take him to the top of the Rileys All Star Pool Challenge.

The next best, nationally, is Ben Clayton, of Rotherham, with 44.53 seconds.

The competition aims to find the fastest player in the country, with the quickest at the end of the month winning an all-expensespaid trip for two to Las Vegas.

Richard, a trainee joiner, of The Broadway, said: “I had four goes, I was getting times of about 50 seconds.

“I potted the black, asked the guy timing me and he said 36 seconds. I was buzzing, shouting around Rileys.

“I’m amazed, I would love to go to Vegas, it is my dream.

“It’s a nervous wait now, I’ve got an eight second clearance so, hopefully, that will be enough.”

Among the celebrities taking part in the challenge are talkSPORT broadcasters Andy Goldstein, Jason Cundy, Alan Brazil, Andy Townsend and Darren Gough, darts’ Phil “The Power” Taylor, and Sky’s Soccer AM presenter Helen Chamberlain.

The challenge will run until the end of the month at Rileys nationwide, any Tuesday or Thursday, between 6pm and 9pm. The competition is free to enter, and you do not have to be a Rileys member.