The World Conker Championships are facing a potential cancellation this year, thanks to hot weather shrinking Britain’s nuts to the smallest size ever.
The festival sees participants go head-to-head using conkers threaded onto a string to try and smash their opponent’s nut. Each player takes three alternate strikes at the opponent’s chestnut.
But this year’s celebrations are up in the air because chestnuts have been shrivelled by the hottest summer on record.
Chiefs say drought-hit trees have dropped their tiny nuts, which would split when being drilled to insert laces, and would not play properly as competitors whack each other’s conkers.
Despite the challenges, 256 players and 2,500 fans are currently expected at this year’s World Championships, scheduled for October 12 in Southwick, Northamptonshire.
If the event is axed, it would mean King Conker David Jakins, 83, cleared of cheating after being found with a steel conker after winning the men’s title last year, would be unable to defend his crown.
Mr Jakins, from Warmington, Northamptonshire, is the tournament’s oldest ever winner.
St John Burkett, spokesperson for the Conker World Championships, said: ‘This is a unique situation which we’ve never seen before.
‘Many trees have dropped almost all of their conkers, which are very small. We can’t play with small nuts as they would split when drilling to insert laces, and would not play correctly.
‘We are concerned we might have to call off the tournament. We are worried. We can’t remember seeing conkers this small so close to the event.’
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Burkett said heatwaves and drought have contributed to the trees looking ‘awful’, adding: ‘Water stress causes them to drop leaves and conkers, and prevents any conkers remaining on trees from growing properly.
‘Strong winds have also downed many more conkers this week, before they are ripe in October.’
The event, while a bit of fun, also raises money for charities which support the visually impaired.
According to the website, since 1965, when the event began, more than £420,000 has been raised for charity.
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