Weather hits conker championships

WHILE the official World Conker Championships, held for many years by the Ashton Conker Club in Northamptonshire, was cancelled on Saturday due to bad weather, 16 hardy entrants took part in the first Bideford World Championship competition.

After battling it out in the rain in Mill Street, Nick Phillips emerged as the conkering hero and winner of the trophy, presented by organisers Steve and Angela Blazey of Blazey’s caf� and cake shop.