All-conquering champion is accused of conker cheating with steel nut

Never in its proud 60-year history has an allegation of such audacious cheating been made against a competitor in the World Conker Championships (WCC) as that levelled at 82-year-old David Jakins - "King Conker" himself, no less.

- Caroline Davies

As a competitor since 1977, and having finally won this year's men's competition, the holder of the King Conker honorary title and the "mascot" of the championships was subsequently found to have a steel conker in his pocket.

Jakins is adamant he never used it and he only carries it around as a joke, but an inquiry is under way by organisers of the world's premier conker competition, which was staged in Southwick, Northamptonshire, on Sunday.

Had King Conker instead headed down the M1 to Peckham, south-east London, on Sunday to the alternative Peckham Conker Championship, he - and his steel conker - would have been warmly embraced.

"This is Peckham. We are a different sort here. Not nutty nerds. So we have engineered a more entertaining format: kind of 'conkers meets Fight Club'. Our pitch is Battle Royale Rules, which means there are no rules," said Chris Quigley, 48, the cofounder of the Peckham Conker Club. Indeed, cheating is encouraged.