The Con Club - Members Bar

23/09/2026

Con Club Open Returns with a Thriller!!

Saturday 19th September saw the return of the Con Club Open, with the competition making its comeback after a few years away. And if Saturday was anything to go by, it certainly made up for lost time.

The tournament used a handicap format, with six players starting on -1, 12 on 0, and eight on +1. The format appeared to strike the perfect balance, with 14 of the 22 matches either going to a decider or finishing within two frames.
From the opening round, it was clear there would be plenty of drama.

The Early Rounds:

The opening round saw three tournament favourites knocked out in deciding frames, setting the tone for what was to come.
The second round saw most of the expected names progress, though several went the distance.
Adam G edged a resilient Tonta 5-4, while Chris F and Jesse B both cruised to 5-0 wins.
Mark L narrowly defeated Tom M, while Ben C eventually overcame a defiant Phillipos 5-3.
The eagerly anticipated O'Donovan derby saw Kean defeat Conor 5-1, although the match was much closer than the score suggested.
The round finished with another thriller as Paul R fought back from 4-2 down against Robert W to win 5-4.

The Quarter-Finals:

By the quarter-finals, the competition was really beginning to heat up.
First up was an all-Canterbury A clash between Ben C and Chris F. After an up-and-down contest, Chris eventually pulled away to win 5-2.
Next, Adam G produced one of the performances of the round, dominating Lewis A 5-0 to book his place in the semi-finals.
Then came an upset as Mark L continued his impressive run, defeating Jesse B 5-2 to reach the last four.
The final quarter-final saw a Cousins A derby as Kean took on Paul R. Paul raced into a 2-0 lead, but Kean responded brilliantly, reeling off five consecutive frames to complete the comeback and win 5-2.

Semi Finals:

The first semi-final between Chris F and Adam G started evenly, with the pair sharing the opening two frames.
Adam then moved into a 3-1 lead, only for Chris to fight back and level the match at 3-3.
From there, Adam found another gear, producing some excellent pool to win the next three frames and secure a 6-3 victory.

The second semi-final saw Kean face Mark, with Mark starting on +1 and Kean on -1.
Mark made the perfect start, using his handicap advantage to establish a three-frame lead. Kean responded by winning the next three to level the match.
The contest remained neck and neck until 4-4, before Kean held his nerve to take the final two frames and secure a 6-4 victory.

The final was set.
Adam G vs Kean.

Final:

The final was an instant classic.
Adam took the opening two frames, but Kean fought back to move 3-2 ahead. From there, the two traded frames in a contest that began to feel less like a pool match and more like a boxing bout, with each player landing a blow before the other immediately came back with one of their own.
Neither could establish control, and eventually the scores reached 5-5.
Kean then missed an opportunity to move 6-5 ahead, allowing Adam to produce a superb clearance and move within one frame of the title.

But the drama wasn't over.
Adam looked on course for victory before missing a crucial yellow, giving Kean the opportunity to level the match and he took it.

6-6.
The returning Con Club Open would be decided by a single frame.

The decider delivered everything the final had promised. Both players traded chances before Kean attempted a clearance, eventually taking on a tough black with the title on the line, and it was not to be for Kean as he rattled the black.
Adam now had his opportunity and held his nerve, taking his remaining two reds with the black waiting over the pocket.

The final ball dropped.

Adam G was the champion of the returning Con Club Open and thoroughly deserved it, as he played some superb pool all day.
It was a fantastic day all round, with the club busy throughout and a great atmosphere building as the competition progressed. From the first frame to the final black, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, making the return of the Con Club Open a huge success.

After a few years away, the competition is back and Saturday certainly showed why it was missed.
After seeing all the positive feedback it won't be too long before we see another pool comp.

22/09/2026

Snooker Open:
Sunday the 13th of September marked the first snooker competition of the year, and it was a resounding success.
With a strong turnout and plenty of positive feedback from the players, the competition looks set to become a monthly event, giving local players another opportunity to battle it out around the table.
Such was the turnout that the tournament was split into two groups, with the top two players from each group progressing through to the semi-finals.

The Group Stages:
In Group A, Kean topped the table, with Alex finishing a close second.
Over in Group B, William led the way, while Justin narrowly pipped Billy to second place, setting up two intriguing semi-final clashes.
The draw meant William would face Alex, while Kean would take on Justin.

The Semi-Finals:
First up was William against Alex, with Alex making the perfect start. He took the opening frame with a fairly dominant display, putting the pressure firmly on William.

But if there is one thing William has shown throughout the competition, it is his tenacity. He refused to be discouraged and responded brilliantly in the second frame with a much-improved performance to level things up.

The following two frames were incredibly close, with neither player willing to give an inch. William eventually managed to edge both, taking the match and booking his place in the final.

Next came Kean against Justin, and the opening frame was every bit as close as expected. The players traded chances throughout, but Kean eventually held his nerve to take the frame on the black.
The second frame was just as tense, going all the way down to the blue. Kean produced two excellent pots when it mattered most to seal the frame and move one away from the final.
With Justin understandably exhausted after a long day's play, he decided to concede the final frame, sending Kean through to meet William in the final.

The Final:
And then there were two.
Kean got off to a blistering start in the final, building an impressive 45-point lead in the opening frame. However, that did little to discourage the young William, who once again showed his trademark determination to fight his way back into the contest.

Despite William's best efforts, Kean managed to clear the remaining colors and take the opening frame.

The second frame proved to be a completely different story. The two players went toe-to-toe from start to finish, with neither able to establish a decisive advantage. Eventually, the frame went all the way down to the pink, with William holding his nerve to take it and level the match at 1-1.

The third frame saw Kean regain control, leading for much of the way. But, as had become a theme throughout the tournament, William refused to give up. He continued to apply pressure right until the end, but Kean eventually held his nerve to take the frame on the yellow, moving 2-1 ahead.

The fourth frame was a tactical battle from the very beginning. Both players produced some excellent safety play, with neither able to find a clear opening in the early stages.

Eventually, William made the first mistake, allowing Kean to get into the frame. However, Kean was unable to fully capitalize, making an error of his own and allowing William straight back in.

William took full advantage and moved into the lead, setting up another tense finish.

The pair continued to go toe-to-toe, with the outcome eventually coming down to the colors. Kean produced two incredibly brave pots on the brown and blue to finally get over the line and seal the frame and with it, the tournament.

With the first competition receiving such positive feedback and interest, it certainly looks like this could be the beginning of something special. If Sunday's tournament is anything to go by, it should provide plenty more close frames, big pots, tactical battles and, no doubt, a few surprises along the way.

19/07/2026

09/05/2026

Anyone looking for bar work at the con club? 20 hours a week maybe more. Must be flexible ie evenings and weekends. Enquire in the club or by phone.