Most conquering conker

The most victorious untreated conker – the fruit of the common horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) – was a `five thousander plus', which won the BBC Conker Conquest in 1954 (UK). However, a professor of botany believes that this heroic specimen might well have been a `ringer', probably an ivory or tagua nut (Phytelephas macrocarpa).

Guinness World Records will not publish any category for the largest collection of conkers for fear that trees might suffer wholesale damage.

To play the game of conkers make a hole with a drill or skewer exactly through the middle of the conker.  Use a strong piece of string or boot lace long enough to be wound twice around the hand with at least eight inches length after tightly knotting at the bottom.  A conker is more likely to survive if it is the striker not the stricken. Secure first strike by calling out 'first' or other traditional terms such as 'my firsy', 'firsy jabs', first swipe', 'first donks', 'first hitsy', 'bagsie first cracks', 'iddley iddley ack, my first smack' or 'hobily, hobily honker, my first conker'.  The other contestant holds his conker still, at what ever height best suits his opponent, while he attempts to strike it using a swinging downward movement.  If he hits it the other player has his turn. If he misses he may be allowed two more tries. If the strings tangle whoever is first to shout 'strings', 'clinks', 'clinch', 'plugs', tangles' or 'twitters' has an extra shot. Some play for strings to get extra shots but it is considered bad form!  The victorious conker adds to its score all the winnings of the other plus one so a 'tenner' which beats a 'fiver' becomes a 'sixteener'.