World Conker Championships back on track as summer heat threatens harvest
Organisers secure supply help from across the country after a hot, dry summer left conkers scarce; event set for 12 October at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, Northamptonshire.
The World Conker Championships in Southwick, near Oundle, Northamptonshire, are expected to go ahead on 12 October after a hot, dry summer left conkers ripening early and many local trees bare. Organisers had feared cancellation, but an appeal for help drew responses from conker suppliers across the country, boosting confidence that the event will proceed as planned.
Organiser Charles Whalley said he is 99.9% certain the championships will go ahead, noting that emails from around the country offering to supply conkers were crucial. Since 1965, the event has raised more than £420,000 for charities that support the visually impaired, a record that has helped sustain the contest through years of fluctuating harvests.
The hot summer and dry conditions meant many local conkers fell from trees long before autumn, forcing organisers to search nationwide for suitable nuts. Whalley said those messages are "fantastic to receive," and that "everybody wants the championships to go ahead" now that help has arrived.
To protect what has fallen, organisers have taken preventive measures. Whalley said, "We've frozen 1,000 or so of them [conkers] and I think the next step is to put them in buckets of water and keep them covered in a cool, dry place." He added, "Hopefully then, there will be conkers left to pick in a week or two's time."
The conkers used this year are expected to be smaller than average due to the extreme weather, but organisers say that should not dampen enjoyment. "We've got a lovely day planned for everybody — some great food stalls and fantastic entertainment, and I think we're going to be chock-a-block full on both the men's and junior's sides," Whalley said.
The World Conker Championships have been held in Northamptonshire since 1965 and have grown into a charity fundraiser that draws entrants from across the country. Last year’s event was punctuated by controversy after accusations of cheating, which were later rebuffed, but the episode helped boost publicity and contributed to a "ridiculous" number of entrants anticipated this year.
The championships are scheduled to take place at the Shuckburgh Arms on 12 October, from 09:30 until 16:00 BST, with organisers hopeful of a crowded day that showcases conker competition as well as local food stalls and entertainment while continuing to support the visually impaired causes.