United Kingdom - Ireland

Oct. 10, 1966 - The British Conker championship. The bRitish Conker championship, inugerated last year by the villagers of Ashton, Northants, and given its national status by them because they can't find anyone in the country who runs a similar contest took place yesterday. It attrscted 64 entrants. Beforre theybegan, Mr. Joseph Horne, a 56-year old engineer whi is championship secretary, called the constants together to explain the rules. No one is allowed to play with his own conkers, Mr. Horne announced. Each contestant in turn, takes three swipes at his opponent conker until 12 swipes in all have been taken. He explained that the organizers were providing conkers intheir natural state. Bakes or pickled conkers were regarded as unfair. And Mr. Horne warned that a player huilty of three snags (getting the string or leather of his conker tangled with his opponent would be disqualified immediately. The final, between Mr. Sid Walden, from Ashton, runner-up last year, and Mr. John Leayton, from nearby Oulton, turned out to be a short-lived-affair. Mr. Walden took three gents swipes at Mr. Layton conker with no success. Then Mr. Leayton conker disintegraed as he took his second massive swipes. After receiving the Great Britain conker cup and silver pint tanked. Mr. Walden declared: Not I must keep practice to retain my title next year. Photo shows moment of victory o Mr. Walden (right) at the British conker championship

Restrictions Only for United Kingdom

56-year Allowed Announced Anyone Ashton Bakes Cant Conker Conkers Contestant Entrants Explain Explained Horne Northants Opponent Organizers Pickled Providing Regarded Rules Runs Similar Snags Status Unfair Villagers Warned

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