WHEN champion pool player Philip Burford first picked up a cue he was as short as the table he was playing on.

The seven-year-old had to stand on beer crates to get anywhere near the balls.

But seven years and a lot of practice later, he is one step from turning his childhood hobby into a profession, after winning his first major tournament.

Philip, 14, from the Brankin Moor area of Darlington, won the Junior British Pool Northern Regional Championship, in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Saturday.

He was competing against young people from across the North of England, and will now go through to the national finals in St Albans, Hertfordshire, in June. If he wins, he will compete in a European tournament.

Yesterday, Philip, who wants to be a professional pool player, said: "Some of the games were easy, some weren't. I won the final by 11 frames to seven.

"I am very happy to have won and look forward to the next round. I am not expecting to win, but I am going to go along and have fun."

Philip, a year nine pupil at Hurworth School Maths and Computing College, near Darlington, spotted the poster advertising the competition in Rileys, in Bondgate, Darlington.

He and his father, Jez, travelled to Doncaster for the competition.

Philip said: "We went down there to see what the standard was like."

His victory has netted him a year's free membership to the British Pool Players Association, which means he can take part in more competitions, many of which are on a Saturday.

Philip lives with his father, mother Megan and sister Rachael, 16.

He is looking for sponsorship. Anyone able to help is asked to call Olivia Richwald, at The Northern Echo, on (01325) 505069.