World Conker Championships in Ashton

In October 1965 a small group of fishermen met in the Chequered Skipper pub in Ashton. They were frustrated by the weather and had to cancel their fishing trip, however being keen sportsmen they decided to amuse themselves by organising a game of conkers between themselves. They picked up a few nuts that littered the ground under the horse chestnut trees that surrounded the village green. Sometime later and no doubt following a few trips to the bar, Ron Marsh was crowned as the very first World Conker Champion.

The World Championships have been held on the second Sunday in October for the last forty years on the Ashton Village Green. Due to the increasing popularity of the event, the Championships relocated in 2009 to a large open field site on the outskirts of Ashton, less than a mile from The Chequered Skipper.

These days you can expect anything up to 400 competitors, 5,000 spectators and over £20,000 raised every year for charity from the event. There is plenty that goes on around the competition arena which takes centre stage such as Circus Entertainers, Marching Bands, Morris Dancers, Bouncy Castles, Craft Stalls and plenty more.

The Chequered Skipper remains as the Headquarters of the Ashton Conker Club and if you are visiting the Championships we hope that you will find time to drop into the Pub for a drink or a bite to eat.