This weekend Freshford hosts the Irish Conker Championships 2011, with a three-day long programme of family-focused outdoor and indoor events.
The festival programme this year includes ghost trails and cookery demonstrations, comedy, pumpkin carving, basket-making, art and crafts exhibitions, and country walks.
Then on Sunday, the competitors will battle it out to become the overall conker champion, with the main conker event on the Village Green in Freshford on Sunday. Registration begins at 12.30pm and competition kicks off at 1pm.
This year’s competition will attract a lot of international interest, with people travelling from the UK to take part in the annual event. The World Conker Championships in the UK was cancelled this year, due to high winds making the tournament ‘too dangerous’, according to organisers. The Freshford festival’s organisers have written to their UK counterparts to see if any disappointed competitors wished to take part.
Last year’s champion, Peter Theloke, will be there to share tips and skills with novice and long-time competitors and the many who have supported the event over its 12-year history.
Art exhibitions will be ongoing during the weekend.
The judging of the ‘Walking Forest’ fancy dress competition will take place at 3.30pm on Sunday.
Grace Kearney of the Irish Conker Championship said there is something for everyone to enjoy on the big day out in Freshford.
“As well as Conkers on the Green from 1pm on Saturday, we have art exhibitions, hiking and trekking on the Loop Walk, and comedy with comedian Jarlath Regan,” she said.
The Irish Conker Championships is open to competitors of all ages from eight upwards, with competitions judged at under-12, under-14, under-17, and adult levels. There will also be team events run on the day.
The action-packed festival will conclude with the crowning of the 2011 Irish Conker Champions at 4.30pm.
