World Conker Championship cheating claims blamed on ‘sore loser’

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The World Conker Championships David Jakins is dressed in green and adorned with conkers. He is focusing on a game of conkers he is currently playing.The World Conker Championships

David Jakins said it was “impossible to cheat at conkers”

The World Conker Championships has said accusations of cheating come from a “sore loser”.

David Jakins, known as King Conker, won the men’s competition during the tournament at Southwick, Northamptonshire, on Sunday.

A Telegraph story included claims that the 82-year-old had cheated by swapping his real conker for a metal one and was also a head judge for the tournament.

Mr Jakins denied cheating and event chairman Jim Packer also rejected the claims, saying: “We don’t know where this story has come from. Somebody’s a sore loser, I think.”

He added: “Yes, he had a steel conker with him, which we’re aware of… it’s very obvious it’s not a real one.”

The World Conker Championships David Jakins and Kelci Banschbach are both holding their conkers. David has a face of disbelief and Kelci is laughibng.The World Conker Championships

David Jakins won the men’s title for the first time on Sunday, but later lost the overall champion title to Kelci Banschbach from Indianapolis

Kelci Banschbach, originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, was overall winner of the event.

She defeated Mr Jakins in the final match to win the women’s title and title “Queen Conker”.

The World Conker Championships David Jakins and Kelci Banschbach sitting in thrones, decorated with conkers and holding trophiesThe World Conker Championships

Mr Jakins said he carried the steel conker to amuse children

Competitors who spoke to the Telegraph thought it suspicious Mr Jakins had “obliterated opponents’ nuts in one hit”.

However, Mr Packer defended Mr Jakins, describing him as “a heavy hitter” and explaining it was not unusual for conkers to be destroyed.

“We’ve had numerous players more than capable of smashing on the first hit,” he added.

Mr Jakins told the BBC he had been playing in conker competitions for 40 years and carried a metal conker to amuse children.

“You get them to hit it with their conker and then their conker breaks and they can’t believe it,” he said.

“It’s impossible to cheat at conkers – it’s a load of nonsense.”

On Monday, tournament organisers said in a statement: “David Jakins, previous finalist and long-standing committee member, very much deserves his King Conker title.”

The World Conker Championships A small black bag full of conkers tied to stringsThe World Conker Championships

Players draw conkers from a bag before they play their round

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