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| World Conker Championships 'king' crowned | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man who beat 176 people to take the the title of "conker king" in the 48th World Conker Championships said he had "dreamed about this moment". | A man who beat 176 people to take the the title of "conker king" in the 48th World Conker Championships said he had "dreamed about this moment". |
| The competitors from countries including the United States, Mexico, and Italy, took part in the competition in Southwick, Northamptonshire. | The competitors from countries including the United States, Mexico, and Italy, took part in the competition in Southwick, Northamptonshire. |
| John Doyle, a computer programmer from Leamington Spa, was crowned world champion and "conker king". | John Doyle, a computer programmer from Leamington Spa, was crowned world champion and "conker king". |
| Stephanie Withall, a beekeeper from Burton Latimer, was runner-up. | Stephanie Withall, a beekeeper from Burton Latimer, was runner-up. |
| The event, which started in 1965, is organised by the Ashton Conker Club and this year saw 177 people take part. | The event, which started in 1965, is organised by the Ashton Conker Club and this year saw 177 people take part. |
| Players take turns at hitting their opponent's conker and the game goes on until one of the conkers is completely destroyed. | Players take turns at hitting their opponent's conker and the game goes on until one of the conkers is completely destroyed. |
| It is described by organisers as "a great spectacle of modern-day gladiators fighting for glory armed only with a nut and 12" of string". | It is described by organisers as "a great spectacle of modern-day gladiators fighting for glory armed only with a nut and 12" of string". |
| Overall champion Mr Doyle said conkers was "an ideal game for a non-sporty person who doesn't even like watching sport". | Overall champion Mr Doyle said conkers was "an ideal game for a non-sporty person who doesn't even like watching sport". |
| "But there's a lot more strategy involved than in other games. Hopefully it'll be in the Olympics next time," he added. | "But there's a lot more strategy involved than in other games. Hopefully it'll be in the Olympics next time," he added. |
| Competitors play on eight white podiums and go through a number of rounds until the winner emerges. | Competitors play on eight white podiums and go through a number of rounds until the winner emerges. |
| Mr Doyle beat off stiff competition including the self-styled "US national team" from Wisconsin, who turned up wearing "cheese on our heads because we're from the cheese state". | Mr Doyle beat off stiff competition including the self-styled "US national team" from Wisconsin, who turned up wearing "cheese on our heads because we're from the cheese state". |
| The organiser of the North American Conker Championship, Peter Davies, flew in from Nova Scotia, Canada, to pick up some tips. | The organiser of the North American Conker Championship, Peter Davies, flew in from Nova Scotia, Canada, to pick up some tips. |
| His event was inspired by the Northamptonshire World Championships three years ago. | His event was inspired by the Northamptonshire World Championships three years ago. |
| "We'll learn a few things from around here. We don't have a costume competition, so I really wanted to see that," he said. | "We'll learn a few things from around here. We don't have a costume competition, so I really wanted to see that," he said. |
| Money raised from the event goes to charities for the blind or partially sighted and, over the years, more than £400,000 has been donated. | Money raised from the event goes to charities for the blind or partially sighted and, over the years, more than £400,000 has been donated. |