The World Conker Championships is an annual event held every October at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, Northamptonshire.
Players from all over the world gather to battle with conkers (the seeds from horse chestnut trees) that have been treaded onto string. Each contestant taking turns to srike their opponents conker until it shatters, whereby claiming victors for the competitor whose conker remains intact.
Organisers have continued to facilitate the event, changing the location from its original home, the Chequered Skipper in Ashton, where the event first began in 1965.
The event has been threatened with conker shortages over the years due to adverse weather conditions, such as those experienced in 1976 and 1980, and the late frost in 1982 that killed off the horse chestnut blossom, resulting in a very poor conker harvest.
Today the event draws around 4000 spectators and up to 400 entrants into the various knock-out competitions, all challenging to become World Conker Champion.
In addition, the event is supported by other stalls and attractions such as face painting, food stalls, caricaturists, pub games, Morris dancing…and of course, a pint of beer.
The 2023 event was held on Sunday 8th October.
For further information, or to request documentary coverage of your event please contact sales@imageandevents.co.uk
