THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 5, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
Huffington Post
HuffPost
15 Oct 2024


NextImg:World Conker Championships Scandalized By Cheating Scandal

LONDON (AP) — The World Conker Championships said Tuesday that it was investigating allegations of cheating after this year’s men’s winner was found to have a steel chestnut in his pocket.

More than 200 enthusiasts of the traditional game entered the annual competition on Sunday in the small village of Southwick in central England. The game involves players using conkers — the glossy brown seeds from the horse chestnut tree — threaded onto a string to try and smash their opponent’s chestnut. Each player takes three alternate strikes.

Veteran player Dave Jakins, 82, won the men’s tournament. But organizers said they launched an investigation after claims that he may have used a steel chestnut.

The allegations were raised by Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, who lost in the men’s final against Jakins after his conker “disintegrated in one hit,” The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Organizers confirmed a steel conker was found in Jakins’ pocket. Investigations were ongoing, but they said that it appeared unlikely that he was able to cheat under the scrutiny of judges. Jakins has denied the allegations.

“He was very closely watched by four judges. It looks like it was absolutely impossible for him to cheat,” St. John Burkett, chair of the event’s organizing committee, told Sky News.

The title of World Conker Champion went this year to Kelci Banschbach, originally from Indianapolis. The 34-year-old was crowned “queen conker” after beating Jakins in the final. She was the first American to win the title since the World Conker Championships began in 1965.

Support Free Journalism

Consider supporting HuffPost starting at $2 to help us provide free, quality journalism that puts people first.

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. We hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Support HuffPost

The event has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years for charities.