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World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

theguardian.com

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Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#11

Post by isodev »

School-Cotton wrote: post #2

Is this game well-known enough in Britain and Ireland that readers will know what on earth is being alleged just from reading this article? Or are you expected to have to google it? Apparently it’s a game where you take turns swinging a chestnut on a string and trying to hit the opponent’s chestnut and break it. Yes, I can see how a steel fake chestnut would be an advantage here, though I’m amazed it wouldn’t be inst…

> Is this game well-known enough in Britain and Ireland

I’m from elsewhere in Europe and I know about it from high school and it’s also something that pops up in the world sports section on news websites every now and then.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#14

Post by bee_rider »

butterfly42069 wrote: post #7

They said he had balls of steel to try that one For the yanks and elsewhere, yes conkers is well known in Britain. You basically put a chestnut (but its a conker) on a string by making a hole in the middle. Take turns swinging them on the string, whoever's breaks is the loser. It used to be great fun till it was banned/requires eye protection now. There's an opportunity there, someone could make a perfectly safe conk…

So the game is to test who has the stronger conker by hitting them into each-other?

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#15

Post by bee_rider »

School-Cotton wrote: post #2

Is this game well-known enough in Britain and Ireland that readers will know what on earth is being alleged just from reading this article? Or are you expected to have to google it? Apparently it’s a game where you take turns swinging a chestnut on a string and trying to hit the opponent’s chestnut and break it. Yes, I can see how a steel fake chestnut would be an advantage here, though I’m amazed it wouldn’t be inst…

> The 23-year-old said: “My conker disintegrated in one hit, and that just doesn’t happen … I’m suspicious of foul play and have expressed my surprise to organisers.”

It seems the suspicious was pretty quick.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#16

Post by DougN7 »

mikeodds wrote: post #5
School-Cotton wrote: post #2

Is this game well-known enough in Britain and Ireland that readers will know what on earth is being alleged just from reading this article? Or are you expected to have to google it? Apparently it’s a game where you take turns swinging a chestnut on a string and trying to hit the opponent’s chestnut and break it. Yes, I can see how a steel fake chestnut would be an advantage here, though I’m amazed it wouldn’t be inst…

Innate knowledge to Brits, similar to knowing a swan might break your arm

Lol, I don’t understand what THAT means! A swan might break your arm?!?

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#17

Post by throwup238 »

DougN7 wrote: post #16
mikeodds wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Innate knowledge to Brits, similar to knowing a swan might break your arm

Lol, I don’t understand what THAT means! A swan might break your arm?!?

It’s the British version of an urban myth. It’s like an urban myth… but more British.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#18

Post by School-Cotton »

bee_rider wrote: post #15
School-Cotton wrote: post #2

Is this game well-known enough in Britain and Ireland that readers will know what on earth is being alleged just from reading this article? Or are you expected to have to google it? Apparently it’s a game where you take turns swinging a chestnut on a string and trying to hit the opponent’s chestnut and break it. Yes, I can see how a steel fake chestnut would be an advantage here, though I’m amazed it wouldn’t be inst…

> The 23-year-old said: “My conker disintegrated in one hit, and that just doesn’t happen … I’m suspicious of foul play and have expressed my surprise to organisers.” It seems the suspicious was pretty quick.

It’s just crazy that someone would cheat at something so low-stakes with such a high probability of being caught, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#19

Post by tomxor »

School-Cotton wrote: post #2

Is this game well-known enough in Britain and Ireland that readers will know what on earth is being alleged just from reading this article? Or are you expected to have to google it? Apparently it’s a game where you take turns swinging a chestnut on a string and trying to hit the opponent’s chestnut and break it. Yes, I can see how a steel fake chestnut would be an advantage here, though I’m amazed it wouldn’t be inst…

Yes. Although the last time I played or heard anyone discuss conkers as a game was in the 1990s at school. My dad seemed to find the concept of fake conkers amusing enough to take it upon himself to craft me a resin filled one, although it didn't fool any kids.

In more recent years a bus driver complained to me conkers are not legal tender as I placed some down while in search of change. Around this time of year you will find most people have their pockets filled with conkers.

Re: World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

#20

Post by CJefferson »

bee_rider wrote: post #14
butterfly42069 wrote: post #7

They said he had balls of steel to try that one For the yanks and elsewhere, yes conkers is well known in Britain. You basically put a chestnut (but its a conker) on a string by making a hole in the middle. Take turns swinging them on the string, whoever's breaks is the loser. It used to be great fun till it was banned/requires eye protection now. There's an opportunity there, someone could make a perfectly safe conk…

So the game is to test who has the stronger conker by hitting them into each-other?

Yes, that's it.

The reason I think this game is so popular is horse chestnut trees are very popular in the UK. For about a month each year, where I grew up the ground would be littered with conkers, both on my route to school and on school grounds. It's natural when walking around to try to find particularly large / impressive looking ones.

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