An investigation is under way at the World Conker Championships after the winner was found with a steel chestnut in his pocket.
UK retiree David Jakins, 82, won the men’s title in Northamptonshire on Sunday for the first time after competing since 1977.
But when Jakins was searched by organisers after his victory they discovered a metal replica in his pocket.
Along with being a contestant, Jakins – as the competition’s top judge, or “King Conker” – was also responsible for drilling and inserting strings into the chestnuts used in the tournament...
Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, 23, who lost in the men’s final against Jakins, told The Telegraph he suspected “foul play”.
“My conker disintegrated in one hit, and that just doesn’t happen,” he said.
“Now it turns out King Conker had a dummy steel conker, so he could have swapped his real conker for that one. Or he could have marked the conker strings to pick out a harder nut.”
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Along with being a contestant, Jakins – as the competition’s top judge, or “King Conker” – was also responsible for drilling and inserting strings into the chestnuts used in the tournament...
