Comeback for conkers tournament

BBC Points Wests Gavin Ramjan meets Kevin McIntyre and Phil Heneghan

DNA testing, footwear checks and frisking could be employed as Poulton, near Cirencester, brings back its first International Conkers Tournament in ten years.

All conkers used at the event will be supplied by the committee, after being individually drilled and strung, in an effort to avoid the dishonest substitutions experienced in the past.

It is meant to be fun. The more rules and regulations there are, the less the fun. Keith Flett, Campaign for Real Conkers

Frisking at the door has been used in past years for suspicious entrants and to confiscate any illegal concealed conkers.

Organiser Phil Heneghan is taking the rules very seriously with all cheats facing an automatic life-time ban.

He said: "It is truly incredible what lengths some contestants will go to in their attempts to win the championship, including filling hollowed-out shells with araldite, or even producing bogus conkers made from mahogany to simulate the real thing.

"Sadly, modern technology and ingenious minds will always find ways of defeating the rules."

DNA

All cheats caught at the tournament will face an automatic life-time ban

DNA testing will be employed to ensure the source of the conkers can be identified without question. If necessary, a footwear check will be given as well.

In response to this, one campaigner has spoken out claiming that rules and regulations are killing conkers.

Keith Flett runs the Campaign for Real Conkers, a group who want to encourage free for all conker playing across the UK although they are opposed to championships, rules, regulations, separate teams for men and women and commercial sponsorship.

He said: "The thing about conkers is that playing it is entirely free and anyone can have a go.

"It is meant to be fun. The more rules and regulations there are, the less the fun."

Rules for the tournament are simple - each team of five faces another team and each person gets three strikes. The team with the most remaining intact goes through to the next round.

To enter a team at Poulton, call Phil Heneghan on 01285 851397.

Poulton International Conkers Tournament, taking place at Poulton's Village Hall, on Friday, 2 October, 2009 at 7.30pm.