Très bon! Shropshire woman is a conkering hero in French challenge
It was all supposed to be a bit of a laugh – something to do during a holiday in France. But a Shropshire woman has conquered the French conker world after she smashed her way to victory in the country's national women's tournament.
Elaine Adams, 56, of New Works, Telford, was on holiday in the south western town of Abjat-sur-Bandiat with her husband John when she noticed the competition and decided to enter – despite having not played conkers for 45 years.
She beat 30 other entrants to win the competition.
She said: "We were just on holiday and thought we would enter and I won. I entered as a joke and was then so surprised when I ended up winning – it was meant as a bit of a laugh, a fun day out but I am very proud."
Mrs Adams, a former Shropshire Star journalist, who now runs her own PR business in Telford, had to win through six rounds to reach the quarter finals, then progressed to the final which she won.
Mrs Adams said her secret to winning was concentration.
"I was paying attention and some of the other players were not," she said. "I just concentrated for the last nine hits. I didn't smash any conkers but I made sure I did not miss.
"We received a magnum of champagne, which was a huge bottle, and a conker necklace – and I can now represent France in the world championships which are going to be held in the UK. I wasn't the only English person there; there were quite a few and the organisers were English as well."
The championship has been going for 20 years. The victory also means Mrs Adams will be eligible to represent France at the world conker championships held in Northamptonshire on Sunday.
But she added: "I am probably hanging up my conkers now."
