Name: World Conker Championships scandal explained
Uploaded: 2024-10-21T14:23:32.000Z
Duration: 1 min 9 s
Description: It's been a turbulent week in the world of international conkers! The PT's Community Reporter, Darren Calpin, explains how the high-profile cheating scandal that has engulfed the sport has finally been resolved.

Men’s champ fully exonerated of any impropriety with his counterfeit steel conker

The World Conker Championships has finally concluded its investigations following explosive allegations that the Men’s World Champion may have won his title unfairly.

Tournament organisers have taken close to a week to draw their conclusions after suggestions arose about the legitimacy of David Jakins’ victory.

Mr Jakins – known locally as King Conker because of his passion for the game – was found to have a steel conker in his pocket during the tournament, something which generated suggestions of potential foul play.

Exonerated World Men’s Conker Champion David Jakins (left) and World Conker Championships Chief Umpire, Richard Howard, enjoy a pint of King Conker bitter at The Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick (image: Hilly Horton).

placeholder image — Exonerated World Men’s Conker Champion David Jakins (left) and World Conker Championships Chief Umpire, Richard Howard, enjoy a pint of King Conker bitter at The Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick (image: Hilly Horton).

Mr Jakins, 82, acknowledged having the doppelganger nut, saying he carried it around with him to amuse people as part of his role as ‘King Conker’.

A statement released by organisers today (October 21) said:

“The conclusion of the investigation is that the World Championship Men’s title was won fairly, and that the steel conker was NOT used in play.

“Various evidence has been considered, including video and photographic, testimony and examination of winning conkers.”

The video evidence following the men’s final appears to show Mr Jakins putting his hand in his pocket before putting his other hand in a different pocket and drawing out a conker he had prepared earlier to throw to the crowd.

The footage shows former engineer Mr Jakins was watched closely by a judge who was looking directly at his hand. The Chief Umpire, two judges, and an investigating officer also look closely at what Mr Jakins is doing.

The subsequent testimony provided by all umpires and judges involved confirmed nothing untoward was seen.

With all this in mind, the investigation panel concluded it would have been “near impossible” for Mr Jakins to have swapped the conkers unnoticed.

The WCC says its investigative procedures are “robust” and are “designed to ensure fair play [and] ensure the integrity of the competition.”

Mr Jakins’ local pub (and supporting brewery) celebrated the news by creating a traditional English bitter in the 82-year-old champ’s honour.

The Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick – which is where the tournament is hosted each year – said it was a fitting way to celebrate the local legend’s victory:

“We are so happy to congratulate David, our King Conker, on his finally winning through after 47 years,” said Hilly Horton of the Shuckburgh Arms.