World Conker champion David Jakins 'won title fairly' in Northamptonshire


An investigation has cleared an 82-year-old man accused of using a steel conker to win a competition. David Jakins won the men’s category at the World Conker Championships in October. However, reports suggested the victory was achieved using a metal horse chestnut, leading to national controversy. The Telegraph had covered the claims extensively. 
There was no sign of any misconduct, according to a statement from the World Conker Championships. Judges and umpires saw nothing untoward, and video evidence showed that Mr Jakins took a conker he had kept in his pocket and threw it to the crowd. Although the video seemed to depict him placing his hand in his pocket, he was being watched carefully by a judge who noticed he was holding a prepared conker. The investigating committee argued it would therefore have been impossible for him to switch the conkers unnoticed during the competition.
Events like the World Conker Championships highlight the continued appeal of traditional games in the digital age. Participants from across the globe look forward to taking part in the Mammoth event each year, from the earliest stages to the finals, with the chance to become Queen or King Conker. Kelci Banschbach, 34, won the women’s championship at this year’s event, along with the coveted title “Queen Conker”. 
Despite the controversy, Mr Jakins stated that he had held a steel conker, known mostly for humour value, but had not used it during the tournament. Moreover, he had taken part in conker games for several years, since 1977, adding that he valued the traditions of the game. With the committee concluding that he followed the rules, Mr Jakins’ reputation remains steadfast as a champion of this unique autumnal game. 

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