Sports · Other Sports · 2 hrs ago
Londoner Frankie Hooper wins World Conker Championship on her first try
Frankie Hooper, a 28-year-old from London, has won the World Conker Championship in Southwick, Northamptonshire.
She said she had never played conkers or entered a competition before.
Hooper beat Simon Griffiths, the men’s winner, in the grand final and former champion Fee Aylmore in the women’s final.
The 59th tournament drew competitors from about 10 countries, and its 256 adult places sold out well in advance.
Around 100 juniors also competed, and as many as 2,000 people attended.
The event follows a cheating controversy two years ago, when a retired former champion was found with a fake steel conker but denied using it; organisers ruled out foul play.
Aylmore took over from her father as the event’s ceremonial Queen Conker mascot.
Frankie Hooper, a 28-year-old Londoner, won the World Conker Championship on her first attempt.
She defeated Simon Griffiths in the Grand Final and former champion Fee Aylmore in the Women's Final on Sunday.
Hooper said she had never played conkers or entered a conker competition before.
The 59th championship took place at Southwick near Oundle in Northamptonshire.
The adult contest's 256 places sold out well in advance, and up to 2,000 people attended.
- Who
- Frankie Hooper, a 28-year-old from London, won the championship.
- What
- She won the World Conker Championship on her first attempt.
- When
- Sunday. The article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Southwick near Oundle in Northamptonshire.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I've not played conkers before, and certainly not entered a conker competition ever before and so this is amazing!
My wife is never going to hear the end of it... I am going to change my name I think.
It's been a great honour to take over this role from my dad, and I've had a marvellous day.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Winner
- Frankie Hooper
- Age
- 28
- Adult contest places
- 256
- Championship edition
- 59th
- Attendance
- Up to 2,000 people
Sources
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