TWO Worcestershire pool stars have excelled on the international stage by becoming European champions.

Darrell Bareham and Scott Surridge were both part of England teams that returned victorious from the European Eight-ball Pool Championships in Daventry.

Bareham, 30, was named player-of-the-tournament after winning 19 of his 21 frames to help England to the men's B' title.

Surridge, 17, who plays alongside Bareham for Worcestershire at Suzy Q in Shrub Hill, also starred as England claimed the junior event.

Herefordshire's Tom Cousins, a 17-year-old Welsh international, landed the junior individual crown, beating England's Steve Petty 7-2 in the final.

For Bareham, being part of England's success ranks as the finest moment of his career to date.

The team finished top of their seven-strong group before seeing off France 8-3 in the semi-finals and coming from 3-0 down to beat Ireland 8-4 in the final.

"It means everything to me," Bareham said. "I am on cloud nine and absolutely buzzing. The reality hasn't set in yet."

The Droitwich potter achieved his long-term aim of qualifying for the England squad last year and has since gone from strength to strength.

He said: "England is the hardest team to get in to. Getting in the squad is completely different to getting in the team.

"When I got in the squad the general consensus was, Well done Darrell, you've got in the squad but it will be only for friendlies'."

But he was part of the national team that won last October's Anglo-Welsh title and managed to force his way into the five-man team for Daventry.

Bareham said: "I had already played more than I thought I was ever going to before I potted a ball at the Europeans. To be part of that team was just magical.

"I never expected to play like I did and I am chuffed to bits."

England's juniors swept to victory by winning all five of their group matches before defeating Scotland 8-2 in the last four and Northern Ireland by the same margin in the final.

Surridge, part of the England set-up for less than a year, won 14 of his 17 frames for the team who have all been selected to represent their country at the world championships in Blackpool in July.

The teenager said: "It's something I have been working towards all my life. I did really well. It was absolutely brilliant and I never expected it to be that good."

Surridge is now hoping to turn professional and is looking for a sponsor. Anyone able to help can call his father Shane on 07950-532477.