Frankie Hooper, a 28-year-old Londoner who had never played conkers before, won the World Conker Championship on Sunday in Southwick, Northamptonshire. The tournament included participants from ten countries and drew around 2,000 spectators; it sold out well in advance with 256 slots for adults. Frankie defeated men's champion Simon Griffiths in the grand final to claim her victory.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-12,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Frankie Hooper, a 28-year-old woman from London who had never played conkers before, won the 59th annual World Conker Championship held in Southwick near Oundle, Northamptonshire on Sunday. The event attracted competitors from ten countries including Japan and Germany, with around 100 junior players and up to 2,000 spectators attending. Hooper defeated men's winner Simon Griffiths, who expressed amusement at his wife hearing about the result for a long time. Tournament organizers ruled out any foul play in the competition, which sold all 256 adult spots well in advance. Additionally, former champion Fee Aylmore was crowned the new ceremonial Queen Conker mascot after narrowly missing out on winning the Women's Final title.
Written for “Conker World Championship” on 2026-10-12,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
A 28-year-old woman has been declared the new World Conker Champion – despite having supposedly never played a single game in her life.
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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.
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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!
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this → say → competition
'I'm dressed as a tiger, because my boyfriend supports Leicester Tigers.'
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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'.
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places → include → advance
Around 100 junior competitors also played, with up to 2,000 people attending.
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people → play → ?
Runner-up Mr Griffiths, from Stamford, said: 'My wife is never going to hear the end of it...
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wife → say → it
I am going to change my name I think.
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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.
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who → miss → father
Frankie Hooper has been declared the new World Conker Champion.
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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.
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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.
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I → see → day
It's a big responsibility being the mascot for such a well–known event.'
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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he → deny → contest
Around 100 junior competitors also played, with up to 2,000 people attending.
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people → play → ?
Two boys are seen here competing
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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.
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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.
'
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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.
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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.'
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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.
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tournament → say → Monday
The Aporia
