The Campaign for Real Conkers
Media Release. Contact Keith Flett 07803 167266
2nd October
Concerns raised over shortage of conker players. Campaigners call on Boris Johnson to act
The Campaign for Real Conkers, that opposes bans on conker playing and unnecessary rules and regulations in games, has said that that the with the 2021 season now in full swing there are significant concerns over a shortage of players.
2021 has seen a good crop of conkers but many lie uncollected on the grounds as interest in the traditional autumn sport appears to be in a continuing decline, with numbers favouring App based virtual games.
In many areas the main collectors of conkers are grey squirrels. The squirrels can’t eat the conkers but that doesn’t stop them from trying and many uncollected conkers can be found with squirrel tooth marks.
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 2021 some COVID-19 safety guidelines still apply.
Campaign Organiser Keith Flett said, the continuing decline in conker collecting and playing in many areas is now a cause for serious concern. Its something that clearly needs Boris Johnson’s attention.
Guide on how to play real conkers safely in 2021
1] Select your conker. Do this yourself. DO NOT use a conker provided by someone else who may give you a poor specimen.
2] 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
3] 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.
4] Drill a small hole through the conker. A nail will often achieve this. Again you must do this yourself
5] Thread the conker through the hole you have drilled. A strong chord, perhaps a shoelace or garden twine is best
6] You are now ready to play.
7] 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.
8] Players take alternate turns to try and hit and destroy their opponent’s conker
9] Those with poor aim may hit the knuckles of their opponent more often than the conker so you may wish to wear gloves.
10] 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.
Leave a Reply