A pool player from Watford has been crowned the Rileys All Star Pool Challenge Champion after clearing a table in less than 30 seconds.

John Burt, 21, has been playing for seven years and is part of a team that competes in the Watford Pool League at Rileys in the town centre.

After agreeing to take part in the competition, it took only five attempts for him pot all 15 balls in a winning time of 29.09s.

His winning clearance saw him pot three balls from the break and miss only one shot before sinking the black ball to finish.

John, from Riverside Road, said: “When I came up here they all said there was a speed ball competition. I didn't have a go until the last week. I set 1m 30s with my first attempt but got under 34 seconds in my next three attempts. Then I got down to 29.09s on the fifth try.

“I just broke and the balls were pretty open and I got into my rhythm. My positional play was perfect so I didn't have to waste too much time running around the table.”

The builder has now won a trophy and a five day trip to Las Vegas for him and his friend Russ Wicks to watch an eight-ball pool tournament next May.

He said: “I was in shock and thought someone might beat it. I was well happy. Being fastest in one club is an achievement but in the country is unexplainable.

“Playing pool all these years, I never thought I would get anything like this.”

John's time also represents an unofficial world records as it is the fastest time ever recorded but was not completed under world record conditions.

The competition ran for four weeks before the closing date of October 29.

Sean Langley, marketing director for Rileys, said: “We put together a speed pool clearance challenge, challenging all our members to clear a pool table in the fastest time they could – all 15 balls with the black last.

“John was the fastest. He beat more than 4,000 entries in the UK. Ronnie O'Sullivan got 1m 6s.

“It's a bit of fun, a bit of a challenge. It's been very popular and has got everyone talking.