~ A Message From The Chairman ~

Welcome to the 40th WORLD CONKER CHAMPIONSHIPS organised by Ashton Conker Club and thank you for joining with us to celebrate this RUBY event.

This year, we are again sponsored and supported by BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM and our friends from Revolver Communications who represent them. BEN & JERRY'S ICE CREAM have been our sponsors for six years now and we really do appreciate all the help and support that they give us. We certainly are a winning team.

Whilst we work hard to make sure that the WORLD CONKER CHAMPIONSHIPS is a first class fun day for all the family, we also work hard on the fund raising side. Over the last year, we have helped fund projects for many organisations that help the visually handicapped as well as helping individuals with specific visual needs. Last year, with your help, we raised a record £18,500 bringing the total raised to date to over £247,000. It would be great to if we could raise a record £20,000 this year! Please help us by generously supporting our stalls and buying tickets for our raffle.

Over this spring & summer we have had good growing conditions for the conker crop and our conker-growing specialist assures us that they will be ready just at the right time and will be of first class playing condition.

May I say a special thank you to the many people who help make this World Championship such a successful and popular event. It seems to go from strength to strength as an 'International Event' as well as a 'Family Fun Day'. Long may it continue.

Good weather has been ordered for the day so I hope you all have a really enjoyable time. For those of you taking part in the championships, may I wish you the very best of luck.

Richard Howard

Chairman - Ashton Conker Club