Arrows legend Phil Taylor has backed a bid to make conkers a “proper” sport like darts.
Ahead of the World Championships this Sunday in Southwick, Northants, players have asked Sport England to upgrade its status from a humble game. Nut-bashing would be eligible for lottery funding if it succeeds, and 16-time world champ Phil – nicknamed “The Power” – said: “I hope Sport England backs conkers’ campaign to become a sport.
“We had a long battle to get darts accepted as a sport, and we still do.
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“Conkers is also a hand-eye coordination sport like darts, and a physical activity.”
Conkers championship spokesman St John Burkett said: “It’s great having Phil with us on the oche on this. Conkers is a similar skill to darts and clearly a form of exercise.”
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Darts was accepted as a sport only in 2005. Fishing, shooting, pool and even quoits are already recognised while conkers meets the Cambridge Dictionary definition of sport. It says: “A game needing physical effort and skill, played according to rules.”
Conkers chiefs said: “We have a governing body and play to a set of rules.” Sport England is expected to give its ruling by Christmas. Some 200 players will vie for the conkers crown in front of 1,000 fans this weekend.
It would be another huge achievement for 'the Power' if he was to help bring conkers into the sporting world. Taylor is considered to be one of the greatest darts players of all time having won 16-world championships over the course of his career between 1987 and 2018.
He also held the world number one ranking in the sport for 13 seasons, including a glittering period which saw him hold the honour for eight consecutive years between 2006 and 2013.
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