The World Conker Championships is investigating cheating allegations after the men’s winner was found to have a steel chestnut in his pocket. Jakins

Cheating alleged after men’s world conker champion found with steel chestnut

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2024-10-15 03:30:03

The World Conker Championships is investigating cheating allegations after the men’s winner was found to have a steel chestnut in his pocket.

Jakins was responsible for drilling and inserting strings into other competitors’ chestnuts as the competition’s top judge, known as the “King Conker”.

Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, who lost in the men’s final against Jakins, said he suspected “foul play”, the Telegraph reported.

The 23-year-old said: “My conker disintegrated in one hit, and that just doesn’t happen … I’m suspicious of foul play and have expressed my surprise to organisers.”

Kelci Banschbach, 34, from Indianapolis, defeated the men’s champion in the grand final to become the first American to win the competition. More than 200 people took part.

Jakins said: “I was found with the steel conker in my pocket, but I only carry [it] around with me for humour value and I did not use it during the event.