Close watch kept on conker cheats

Incident-free world championships after close watch on possible cheats

A salesman and a lawyer conquered the world at the weekend in an international sporting event.

The 41st World Conker Championships took place in Ashton near Oundle amid controversy about contaminated nuts.

Alex Callan, a sales rep from York, took the men's title and Jane Coddington, a Boston lawyer, finished in first place in the women's event.

John Hadman, competition secretary, said they kept a close watch because of rumours nuts had been hardened.

Word spread before the contest that competitors were illegally soaking conkers in vinegar and baking them slowly to make them extra hard.

"Fortunately, the event was staged without incident and the best players won," he said.