King Conker breaks silence amid accusations he used STEEL chestnut

The infamous King Conker has now broken his silence as he was accused of cheating at the World Conker Championships after being found with a steel chestnut.

Allegations of foul play are swirling around David Jakins, 82, who won his quarter and semi-final in one strike - a feat that is almost unheard of.

His victory signified his first win, at the 46th attempt, after competing annually since 1977.

While the enthusiast of the traditional British children's game clinched the men's title, he eventually lost in the grand final to first-time competitor Kelci Banschbach, 34, from Indianapolis in Indiana. 

But when the retired engineer Jakins was searched after Sunday's event in Southwick, Northamptonshire, a shocking discovery was made.

The sportsman was found to have a steel conker, shaped and painted to look real, and threaded on an identical lace, concealed in a pocket.

Allegations come amid Jakins - known as King Conker - also having the status of the tournament's top judge who drilled and inserted strings in other competitors' chestnuts.

Jakins denies cheating and claims he carried the steel conker for 'humour value', insisting he never used it during the contest.

The oldest ever winner, Jakins said: 'I was found with the steel conker in my pocket, but I only carry around with me for humour value and I did not use it during the event.

'Yes, I did help prepare the conkers before the tournament. But this isn't cheating or a fix, and I didn't mark the strings. I just tried to hit hard, and somehow, I finally won.'

The comments come as King Conker stepped back from his World Conker Championships role amid organisers requesting video evidence.

Jakins, 82, from Warmington, Northants, is also the tournament's oldest ever winner, in what is expected to be his final year competing.

Meanwhile, the allegations have caused quite the stir in conker circles as enthusiasts lock horns.

Opponents like Alistair Johnson-Ferguson, 23, from Canary Wharf, London - who was beaten by Jankins in the men's contest - voiced their concern.

Johnson-Ferfuson said: 'My conker disintegrated in one hit, and that just doesn't happen.

'Now it turns out King Conker had a dummy steel conker, so he could have swapped his real conker for that one. Or he could have marked the conker strings to pick out a harder nut.

'I'm suspicious of foul play and have expressed my surprise to organisers.'

Event chairman Jim Packer told the BBC: 'Somebody’s a sore loser, I think.'

President and chief umpire of the event, Richard Howard, said he spotted David showing his steel conker to a crowd of children ahead of the competition.

Concerned about how this may look, Richard said he volunteered to keep the conker in his pocket while the competition took place.

Howard said: 'King Conker is like a figurehead.

'For a bit of fun a couple of years ago he made a steel conker to show the children.

'He had it with him on Sunday.

'We had a word and I said it doesn’t look good to have it on you so he gave it to me to keep while the conker championships took place.

'I didn’t want anybody to accuse him of cheating.

'It is wonderful publicity but I don’t like to see David being called a cheat.

'He is the last person who would cheat.'

As the competition’s top judge, Jakins was responsible for drilling some of the 2,000 chestnuts used - which led to further cheating concerns.

Howard claims these were kept at his home and therefore could not have been tampered with.

But conkers fan David Glew, 78, from Lincoln, said: 'As if it's not suspicious enough for the event's top judge to take part in his own tournament and win, he has also obliterated opponents' nuts in one hit and then been found with a metal conker.

'The question that has to be asked is - how has he won now, after never winning previously?

'The whole thing is nuts. It stinks, and needs to be properly investigated to save our game from scandal.'

St John Burkett, spokesman for the Conker World Championships, which drew 256 players and 2,000 fans, said: 'Allegations of foul play have been received that somehow King Conker swapped his real conker for the metal one later found in his pocket.

'Players select conkers from a sack before each round. There are also suggestions that King Conker had marked the strings of harder nuts. We can confirm he was involved in drilling and lacing the nuts before the event. We are investigating.'

Speaking to MailOnline, St John Burkett added players carrying steel conkers was not prohibited and insisted the drawing of chestnuts from a sealed bag was strictly policed by two officials.

'Members of the committee have discussed the matter, particularly in light of Mr Jakins winning the men’s final and semi final with one hit and two hits, but have concluded that, as far as we can tell, play was fair, and the rules were followed,' he said.

'We are very firm on the rules and fair play, and also have a presiding senior ring judge. Richard Howard, who keeps an oversight on all players, no matter how well-known they are to him.'

King Conker would become the first champion ever to be stripped of their title if the probe concludes he used the metal nut.