The Conker World Championships, rocked by a cheating scandal

LONDON (AP) — The World Conker Championship said Tuesday it was investigating allegations of cheating after this year’s winner was found to have a steel chestnut in his pocket.

More than 200 enthusiasts of the traditional game turned out for the annual competition in the small town of Southwick in central England on Sunday. The game involves players using conkers (the shiny brown seeds of the horse chestnut tree) strung on a string to try to crush their opponent’s chestnut. Each player makes three alternate strokes.

Veteran player Dave Jakins, 82, won the men’s tournament. But organizers said they launched an investigation after claims he may have used a steel chestnut.

The allegations were made by Alastair Johnson-Ferguson, who lost the men’s final to Jakins after his conquest “disintegrated in one fell swoop”, reported The Telegraph newspaper.

Organizers confirmed that a steel crowbar was found in Jakins’ pocket. Investigations were ongoing, but they said it appeared unlikely that he could cheat under the judges’ scrutiny. Jakins has denied the allegations.

“He was watched very closely by four judges. It seemed absolutely impossible for him to cheat,” St. John Burkett, chairman of the event’s organizing committee, told Sky News.

The Conker World Champion title this year went to Indianapolis native Kelci Banschbach. The 34-year-old was crowned ‘queen conker’ after beating Jakins in the final. She was the first American to win the title since the World Conker Championships began in 1965.

The event has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities over the years.