UK - Train driver conquers the world

[John Ashworth]

Train driver conquers the world

Helen Pidd
Monday October 15, 2007
The Guardian

For some the weekend's sporting highlight took place over 82 minutes in Paris on Saturday night. But for another select group of sports fans it was all about Ashton in Northamptonshire, where a 36-year-old train driver yesterday swung his "nut" to victory in the annual World Conker Championships.

The conditions were perfect: fluffy clouds, no rain and barely a breeze to interfere with the concentration of competitors as they tried to smash their opponents' conkers - and occasionally, knuckles - on the village green.

In the end it was Ady Hurrell, from Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, who conquered, needing just two shots to shatter his fellow finalist John Ingram's nut. He beat off more than 300 competitors hailing from as far afield as the USA, Brazil, Canada and Ukraine. There was even a team from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, which was keen to combat the industry's "killjoy" reputation by taking part.

Ringside, much was made of Mr Ingram's domicile - though originally from Leighton Buzzard, the 54-year-old antiques dealer now lives in the Dordogne, France - leading some to quip that England had won the double after the rugby success. A chorus of Swing Low Sweet Chariot broke out as the championships entered the tense final stages.

Mr Hurrell won without resorting to any of the traditional conker-hardening techniques, which are outlawed in this international contest. To prevent unscrupulous competitors secretly soaking their conkers in vinegar, or following the advice of two-times world champion Charlie Bray who swears by passing his through a pig, the organisers provide conkers ready stringed.

The only secret to the sport, according to Ashton Conker Club secretary John Hadman, is "entirely aggression". It's not a game for softies, he explains on the contest's website.