A cracking year for conkers

THIS year’s long, hot and dry summer had led to a bumper crop of bigger, shiner conkers.

It’s good news for children who enjoy the traditional game and for contestants in the world conker championships being held in Britain.

Co- organiser StJohn Burkett said: ‘Our conkers are much better than last year – so attractive, and big and shiny.

‘We had a dry summer so there are a lot of fruiting trees doing very well, including conkers, which have clearly enjoyed the conditions.

‘It looks like we are going to have some super conkers. Last year, it was very difficult to get good conkers and it was wet.’

Last year’s rainy summer left players disappointed by a poor crop from horse chestnuts of shrivelled conkers half their usual size.

The spread of leaf miner moths, which produce leaf- eating larvae and bacteria, also damaged the trees.

The last two championships were axed because of poor weather and problems finding a venue.

But this year’s will go ahead at the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, near Oundle, Peterborough,

The contest began in 1965 and pairs of players battle until one of their conkers is smashed.

The eventual winner is led triumphantly to the Conker Throne and crowned with conkers.