A 28-year-old woman has been declared the new World Conker Champion – despite having supposedly never played a single game in her life.
asserted
woman → declare → life
Frankie Hooper, from London, defeated men's winner Simon Griffiths at the Grand Final and former champion Fee Aylmore at the Women's Final on Sunday.
asserted
Hooper → defeat → Sunday
Ms Hooper said: 'I've not played conkers before, and certainly not entered a conker competition ever before and so this is amazing!
asserted
this → say → competition
'I'm dressed as a tiger, because my boyfriend supports Leicester Tigers.'
asserted
boyfriend → dress → Tigers
Representatives from around ten countries including Japan and Germany took part in the 59th competition at Southwick near Oundle in Northamptonshire – with the 256 places in the adult contest selling out 'well in advance'.
asserted
places → include → advance
Around 100 junior competitors also played, with up to 2,000 people attending.
asserted
people → play → ?
Runner-up Mr Griffiths, from Stamford, said: 'My wife is never going to hear the end of it...
asserted
wife → say → it
I am going to change my name I think.
asserted
I → go → name
Fee Aylmore, who narrowly missed out on the Women's Final title was crowned the new ceremonial Queen Conker mascot – taking over from her father, recently-retired King Conker, David Jakins.
asserted
who → miss → father
Frankie Hooper has been declared the new World Conker Champion.
asserted
Hooper → declare → ?
She is seen here with her trophy
Ms Hooper defeated Open World Champion Simon Griffiths at the Grand Final and former champion Fee Aylmore at the Women's Final on Sunday.
asserted
Hooper → see → Sunday
They are seen here competing
Two participants are seen swinging conkers during the tournament while officials watch on in high vis vests
Ms Aylmore said: 'It's been a great honour to take over this role from my dad, and I've had a marvellous day.
asserted
I → see → day
It's a big responsibility being the mascot for such a well–known event.'
asserted
It → know → event
David Jakins, 84, caused a stir two years ago when the tournament was hit by an alleged cheating scandal – as he was found with a dummy steel horse chestnut.
asserted
he → cause → chestnut
Mr Jakins won his quarter and semi-final in one strike – almost unheard of in the game – clinching the men's title in a surprise run to victory at the 46th attempt after competing annually since 1977.
asserted
Jakins → win → 1977
He eventually lost in the grand final to first-time competitor Kelci Banschbach, 34, from Indianapolis in Indiana – who became the first American to clinch the title since it began in 1965.
asserted
it → lose → 1965
But when retired engineer Mr Jakins was searched after the annual event in Southwick he was found to have a steel conker, shaped and painted to look real, and threaded on an identical lace, concealed in a pocket.
asserted
he → search → pocket
Amid further allegations of a 'fix', Mr Jakins was also the tournament's top judge – known as King Conker – who drilled and inserted strings in other competitors' chestnuts.
asserted
who → know → chestnuts
Mr Jakins denied cheating and claimed he carried around his steel conker for 'humour value', insisting he never used it during the contest.
asserted
he → deny → contest
Around 100 junior competitors also played, with up to 2,000 people attending.
asserted
people → play → ?
Two boys are seen here competing
asserted
boys → see → ?
Two ladies are pictured competing during the contest - which attracted competitors from all corners of the globe
A woman holds out her conquer as she competes in the 59th annual Conquer World Championships
One contender dressed as a hen is seen holding out her conker as another competitor takes aim
Frankie Hooper is pictured here alongside men's winner Simon Griffith as they accepted trophies for their achievements
'I'm dressed as a tiger, because my boyfriend supports Leicester Tigers', Ms Hooper said on Sunday
Tournament organisers also ruled out any foul play.
asserted
organisers → picture → play
Speaking on this year's tournament, organiser John Burkett said: 'This has been a wonderful sunny day with a fantastic competition amongst some very serious – and some not–so–serious players.
'
asserted
This → speak → serious
I particularly enjoyed seeing some of the fancy dress, such as the many players dressed as Noah and the animals in his Ark.
asserted
I → see → Ark.
I'd like to thank all of our sponsors, including Allica Bank, Harrowden Turf and Solovair Shoes, as this enables us to put on a lovely day's event for people to come to, and to add to our total for blind and partially–sighted organisations and individuals, currently, we have raised half a million pounds.'
asserted
we → like → pounds
Mr Burkett said next year would mark the contest's 'big 60th event celebrations' – with the tournament due to commence on a Monday.
asserted
tournament → say → Monday
The Aporia
