Conkering heroes battle it out on two pub fronts

In Angmering, 600 chestnuts disintegrated to raise a total of 955 for their good-cause namesake '“ Chestnut Tree House children's hospice.

At Ford, The Ship and Anchor played host to Sompting Village Morris' annual Battle of the Conkers.

At the Spotted Cow in Angmering, the competition, organised by Scotch, the Spotted Cow Organisation to Create Help, attracted 26 teams of three players.

Victors on the day were Buddie's Angels, Alicia Maginess, Catherine Maginess and Brad Peck, who took away the first-prize shield.

They were closely followed by Harry's Potters, Harry Ellis, Ralph Ellis and Charlie Ellis and in third place were the Conker Plonkers '“ Matt Ford, Phil Mainsbridge and Del Norris.

Winners of the plate competition for first-round losers were the Squashed Tomatoes, Katie, Max and Guy Gisborne.

Andrew Boughton-Leigh was voted most outstanding player.

Organiser Anthony Booty, who has been running the competition since 1980, said that contestants, who were just children at the first events, were still returning each year.

"The day went absolutely brilliantly," he said: "There were so many people playing, it took all of yesterday morning to sweep up the remains of the conkers.

"We had a lot of children taking part who said they could no longer play at school, which is a shame. We had several buckets of conkers left over and I gave them away to the children."

At the Ship and Anchor, the Sompting Village Morris held their annual free competition, organised again this year by Martin Frost.

Landlords Arthur Cole and his wife Rose played host to the 90 or so competitors who battled it out for the winners' medals.

"It was a very successful event," said Arthur. "The pub was very busy and we had some nice ales on offer from Arundel Brewery."