World Conker Championships could be called off after nuts weather frazzled this year’s crop
The World Conker Championships, held annually in Southwick, Northamptonshire, could be cancelled this year after repeated heatwaves left Britain's chestnuts too small and shrivelled to use in competition. Organisers say the event, which draws around 2,500 spectators and 256 competitors, needs 3,000 large conkers roughly two inches wide to go ahead, and this summer's hot, dry conditions appear to have produced the worst harvest on record.
A final decision will be made at a meeting on 30 September, following a nationwide review of conker trees by committee members and reports from the public on nut quality. Spokesperson St John Burkett said some trees have no conkers at all, others have unripe husks, and many have produced only small nuts that break too easily to play with, adding that other water-stressed trees such as apples, pears and hawthorns have also suffered poor yields. The championships previously made headlines in 2024 over a cheating scandal involving a steel dummy conker, which prompted the introduction of airport-style security scanners at last year's event.
- Heatwaves may force cancellation of World Conker Championships this year
- Organisers need 3,000 large conkers; harvest called worst ever
- Decision due 30 September after nationwide conker quality review
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The World Conker Championships is an annual competition held in Southwick, Northamptonshire, where players take turns trying to smash each other's horse chestnuts on strings. It typically attracts around 2,500 spectators and 256 competitors, and organisers need a large stock of big, sturdy conkers for the games to work.
This year's repeated heatwaves have left many chestnut trees across Britain producing few nuts, or ones that are small, shrivelled or unripe and prone to breaking during play. Organisers have been surveying trees nationally, with help from public reports, to see whether enough suitable conkers can be found.
The event is a well-known piece of British eccentric sporting tradition, and has drawn attention before, including a 2024 cheating row over a fake steel conker that led to security scanning being introduced at last year's championships. Whether this year's event can go ahead depends on the outcome of the nut survey.