AFTER becoming a European champion earlier this month, Joshua Stoneham is gearing up for another shot at international glory after earning a spot in the England U15 team for this year’s European Blackball Association’s World Championships.

The 13-year-old, from Calne, starred as England’s U15 A side were victorious at the European Championships in Bridlington on April 5-8, with Stoneham helping his team come from 5-1 down to beat Scotland 8-7 in the semi-finals before they bested Wales in the final, with the pint-sized potter sinking the winning black.

Winning 18 of his 26 frames handed Stoneham a 69 per cent winning ratio and on Tuesday, he received that the news that his display was enough to earn him a place representing his country at the World Championships in Killarney, Ireland, in October.

The youngster, who is sponsored by Ben Buckwell of BSB Flooring and Carly Defreitas of Reading Snooker Club, and has also been allowed to practice for free at The Talbot Inn, in Calne, had previously competed at a European Championships before his Bridlington success and reckons that experience played a big part in him helping his teammates to victory.

“Because I’d done one before, I didn’t really have that many nerves when I got there but you do get them when you’re in the semi-final and the final,” he said.

“We went there really wanting to win and when I hit that last black, I was just thinking ‘this has to go in’.

“When it did go in; I can’t explain how it felt.

“It was crazy and we were all so happy.”

During his successful campaign, Stoneham had to make a special effort to keep one family member in the loop.

Dad Luke said: “Millie (Briggs) is my mum’s mum and she’s his biggest fan. She lives in Lyneham and she loves snooker.

“She wanted to know every score and Joshua called her after every match. He’s been to show her his medal.”