Conker fight!

If you see far fewer conkers on the ground this year, David Angell may to be blame. He needs hundreds of the horse chestnuts for the conker fight that’s taking place at the Cinque Ports pub on Sunday, October 27. The tournament is raising money for cancer charities.

For many playing conkers will bring back happy (and painful?) memories of childhood. In this knockout game each round is played by two players, both with a conker threaded on a piece of string. The players take turns to strike the other’s conker until it breaks, until a winner is found. The game in Rye is being played under World Conker Championship (WCC) rules.

David is supplying conkers for the contestants. “Not that any one in Rye would, but it’s a way of stopping any cheating as was reported in the news this week. No pickling or heating to harden the conker. Each one needs stringing so I’ve been busy with a bradawl, which is taking far too long, so I might end up using a drill.”

Last weekend the Conker World Championships in Northamptonshire were embroiled in a cheating scandal after the winner was found with a steel decoy. No chance of that in Rye says David: “All our conkers will be drawn ‘blind’ from a bag. Players may reject up to three selected conkers.”

He hopes it’ll be a fun afternoon at the Cinque Ports, though with a serious aim. “I don’t think our family is any different, but cancer has played a big part in my family’s lives recently so this is a way of giving something back to two amazing charities: Macmillan and Cancer Research.”

It’s a suggested £5 donation to enter and the tournament takes place on Sunday, October 27 2pm – 6pm. A trophy will be awarded to the conkerer…

Thanks to Andi and Rock Channel Marine for sponsoring, Mark Baker for the artwork and design and the Cinque Ports for hosting.

Image Credits: David Angell .