Conker Competitions
Conkers is a traditional game which originated in the British Isles. Mostly played by children, there is also a serious side to the game. Professional contests are now held and the World Conker Championship is the most significant of all Conker Competitions.
In the game, a horse chestnut seed, the conker, is tied to a piece of string. Competitors take turns hitting each other’s conker until the loser’s conker breaks apart. Conkers are named after the number of victories that the conker has had. For example, a conker with one victory is named a ‘one-er’.
When a conker wins, the number of victories of the defeated conker is also added to the number of the winner. So, if a ‘one-er’ beats a ‘six-er’, it then becomes an ‘eight-er’. This naming system in Conker Competitions can vary in different countries, most significantly in Scotland and the USA.
In Conker Competitions, the attacker can continue to hit the opposition conker until they miss, when they swap roles. In the World Conker Championship, the rules are a little different; the attacker is only allowed three shots at the opposition before swapping roles.
Many competitors might try to harden the conker by leaving it in vinegar for a long period. However, this is regarded as cheating by the regulatory authorities. The website located at hardgurningnrg.co.uk has a lot of information about traditional British contests, including gurning. Gurning is basically a face-pulling contest.