The winner of the World Conker Championships has been cleared of any wrongdoing after he was found with a steel nut in his pocket. David Jakins, known

‘King Conker’ cleared of cheating at World Conker Championships

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2024-11-05 20:30:05

The winner of the World Conker Championships has been cleared of any wrongdoing after he was found with a steel nut in his pocket.

David Jakins, known as King Conker, won the annual title in Southwick, Northamptonshire, on 13 October for the first time after competing in the competition since 1977.

But when organisers searched his pockets after the runner-up raised suspicions over the way his conker shattered on impact during the final, Jakins, 82, was found to have a metal replica conker, prompting an investigation.

After the scandal generated more media interest than England’s men’s and women’s cricket teams combined, King Conker has been cleared by the organisers, who found no evidence the steel nut was used in the competition.

Jakins, a retired engineer, told the Daily Star: “I’m so relieved to be cleared. It’s been a stressful week. We are gentlemen at the World Conker Championships and we don’t cheat. I’ve been playing and practising for decades. That’s how I won.

“I admit I had the steel conker in my pocket, but I didn’t play with it. I show it to people as a joke, but I won’t be bringing it again.”