BROTHERS James and Michael Utley have set the pool playing world alight with double success at the United Kingdom Junior Championships.

Seventeen-year-old James was runner-up in the championship and after a brilliant contest was finally beaten by the World Champion Gareth Potts.

Micahel, 15, a pupil at Holy Family School, was also on form reaching the last eight in the Under-16 individual event.

James plays for the Reservoir Tavern pool team in the Keighley & District League and has also represented Yorkshire. After his success in the UK event he hoped to go through to the European and World championships, but has been told that English organisers will only be sending the champion to represent the country.

But local professional pool ace, Chris Melling, who has encouraged James in his early years, is fighting to get the ruling overturned.

"When I was runner-up in the UK Junior Championships I went forward to the Worlds and James should be given the chance, particularly as Gareth is already the World Champion and would get automatic entry to the competition to defend his title," Chris said.

Chris himself is also gearing up for the European Pro Tour event which is taking place at the Hilton Hotel, Bradford this weekend. He is expected to start as favourite for the competition after claiming three major titles including the Kimberley Ales Professional competition and events three and four on the UK Tour.

"The UK Tour has never been won twice in succession before and this weekend I hope to bring up a treble," he said.

This weekend's event is being televised on satellite TV.

Chris has also been selected to represent England when they take on Eire in Dublin in the next few weeks.

n James (left) and Michael Utley celebrate their success at the UK Junior Championships.