Conkers secured for return of world championships

The World Conker Championships are to return next month after organisers concluded there was "a sufficient number of large playing conkers".

Concerns had been raised as to whether there would be enough fresh conkers to hold the annual event, which takes place at Southwick, Northamptonshire.

Chair Jim Packer said: "We have been surprised by the number and quality of conkers still on the trees, after the extreme weather we have had during the year."

He also said offers of supplies from Kirby Hall, near Gretton, and from abroad mean the event can "definitely go ahead" on 11 October.

Packer said: "We were concerned that, whilst there are plenty of conkers, they would be small and very difficult to play with.

"We need the larger, playing-quality conkers which have a circumference of around 4.5 to 5 inches (12 to 13 cm)."

He explained that fresh conkers were essential because storing them can make them either too soft or too hard, and this affects their playing quality.

Packer said they had had offers of supplies from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, as well as closer to home.

The event has been taking place since 1965, initially held at Ashton, near Oundle, for 45 years, before moving to a bigger site at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick.

Some 256 people from nine different countries, including Japan, entered last year's competition.

The men's winner was Matt Cross, from Bourne, Lincolnshire, who was also crowned the overall World Conker Champion after beating women's victor Mags Blake, of Corby, in the ultimate showdown.

The competition hit the headlines in 2024 after its King Conker was accused of cheating with a steel nut.

David Jakins, 84, was eventually cleared and returned to Southwick on Sunday to defend his crown - only to be knocked out by a woman dressed as a bee in the first round.

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