←back to thread

World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating

(www.theguardian.com)
424 points notamy | 2 comments | 15 Oct 24 03:12 UTC | HN request time: 0.45s | source
Show context
sourcepluck ◴[15 Oct 24 11:07 UTC] No.41847295[source]▶
Can confirm that we had very elaborate rules for our conker championships in school in Ireland in the late 90s and early 00s.

The lore ran deep too - conkers were varnished in different ways, hardened in front of fireplaces, secret conker trees were coveted, rules were sometimes broken, airplanes were usually not allowed, disputes were not always mitigated, the occasional teacher grumbled. Fun was had.

replies(4): >>41847585 #>>41847933 #>>41848624 #>>41850627 #
walthamstow ◴[15 Oct 24 12:37 UTC] No.41847933[source]▶
Did you have 'stamps' in Ireland too?

When a player's conker comes off the string but remains whole, the opponent can call "stamps!!" and attempt to stamp it to pieces.

replies(1): >>41848690 #
1. sourcepluck ◴[15 Oct 24 13:59 UTC] No.41848690[source]▶
We had an explicit "no stamping" rule, which could be overturned by agreement before a game.

Actually, we used to have a rhythmic string of rules which were very sayable, which I can't remember, along the lines of "no stamping no biting no _____ no _____ no ...", with a list of things, and a rhyme or two in there. I'm going to ask any old friends I run into and see if I can get the full thing back again.

I'm pretty sure the first two were no stamping and no biting though. If you'd anything like that, I'd love to hear it!

replies(1): >>41858122 #
2. walthamstow ◴[16 Oct 24 12:06 UTC] No.41858122[source]▶
Nope, nothing like that. Apart from not varnishing the conker I don't think we had any rules at all. It was a free-for-all. South London, late 90s.

EDIT - and right on time, south London rules show up in today's Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/oct/16/nut-pimping-...