Conker champ after only one year

The 40th World Conker Championship, held on Sunday, was won by a man who only entered the competition for the first time last year.

Darren Foster, from Peterborough, was knocked out in the first round of the event in 2003.

But after his triumph this year, he said success at conkers was more to do with luck than judgement.

The event, on the village green at Ashton near Oundle, attracted participants from all over the world.

CONKERING: THE RULES Competitors are not allowed to use their own chestnuts The lace between knuckle and nut must measure 8 inches The striker must not deliberately miss the conker Tangling of laces (snags) will be noted. Three snags and you're out Striker has three shots: opponent has three shots. Game continues until a conker is smashed

The championship began in 1965 when a group of pub regulars decided to play conkers as an alternative to fishing.

Since then almost £200,000 has been raised to help various charities for the blind.

Officials at the World Conker Championship stored 1,000 conkers, which on Friday were carefully drilled and strung, ready for Sunday's contest.