The Campaign for Real Conkers
Media Release. Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266
30th September
Exercise & relaxation in restricted times: conker playing
The Campaign for Real Conkers, that opposes bans on conker playing and unnecessary rules and regulations in games has said that that with the 2020 conker season now well underway it is the ideal game for exercise with new social distancing regulations.
2020 has seen a good crop of conkers in many areas, helped by often windy weather
The campaigners say that while they are maintaining their usual ‘anything goes’ approach to conker games, to encourage people to play without arbitrary rules, in 2020 some COVID-19 safety guidelines will apply.
Campaign Organiser Keith Flett said, conkers requires only two people and they would normally be socially distanced. Our 2020 guidelines however provide additional safety measures. We were pleased to see Shadow Justice Minister David Lammy propose a conker game with Boris Johnson earlier this week. Its just the thing needed for safe exercise in these restricted times.
Guide on how to play real conkers safely in 2020
1] Select your conker. Do this yourself. DO NOT use a conker provided by someone else who may give you a poor specimen.
2] Do not allow your chosen conker to be handled by others and once selected immediately sanitise it.
3] There is no specific kind of conker that makes a good game winner. Large conkers may more easily splinter for example. Some prefer conkers with flat and sharp edges
4] You may use the conker ‘as is’ known as ‘organic’. Alternatively you may seek to harden it by baking it, soaking it in vinegar etc. There is no guarantee that an artificially enhanced conker will perform any better than an organic one.
5] Drill a small hole through the conker. A nail will often achieve this. Again you must do this yourself
6] Thread the conker through the hole you have drilled. A strong chord, perhaps a shoelace is best
7] You are now ready to play.
8] Please wear a mask when playing and make sure your opponent is also wearing one
9] Make sure that the chord is long enough to allow you to stand at least 1 metre plus away from your opponent. This would generally be the case as space is required for the conker swing.
10] Players take alternate turns to try and hit and destroy their opponent’s conker
11] Those with poor aim may hit the knuckles of their opponent more often than the conker so you may wish to wear gloves.
12] If the conker does come into contact with an opponent please sanitise it before a further round
13] The winner is the player who determines their opponents conker unusable in further rounds, usually by causing it to splinter into two or more pieces
14] Play safely and enjoy!
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