Crowned with conkers

Emma, 16, travelled up to Ashton in Northamptonshire for the competition which attracted almost 500 people from 19 different countries.

She said: "I went last year with my dad and a few friends. It was just a fun day out and a bit of a laugh.

"We decided to go back this year and I thought I would enter the young adult competition again. We had a couple of warm-ups and then the knockouts, and I won. It is all a bit of fun but I was really pleased."

Emma attended this year's event with her father, Gary.

He said: "We had so much fun last year we thought we'd go back. Emma was a bit embarrassed at the beginning because there were cameras from BBC and Sky everywhere. But when she started winning you could tell she was really enjoying herself.

"I'd recommend anyone to go there for what is a fun and different day out. We're already looking forward to next year!"

Emma was presented with a trophy to mark her victory, as well as all the conkers used in the knockout rounds.

Her winning conker will take pride of place inside the trophy.

She said: "It's cool to have the trophy. It all seems a bit silly but its not as easy as it looks."

Organised by Ashton Conker Club, the competition first took place in 1965 and has grown year by year ever since.

The competitors play on eight white podiums on the village green and go through rounds until the winner emerges and is lead to the Conker Throne and crowned with conkers.

As well as being a family day out with stalls and sideshows, the event also raises money for charities for the blind and visually impaired.

In the last three years, the record of the amount of money raised has consistently been broken. Last year, a staggering £23,000 was raised.

The next competition will take place on Sunday, October 14, 2007.

To find out more about the World Conker Championships see www.worldconkerchampionships.com.