ADULTS proved the most fearsome competitors at Liverpool’s 15th annual conker championships – with competitive fathers determined to show off their conker skills in front of the youngsters.

The event at Calderstones Park has become an autumn favourite with parents and children alike, and despite the wind and rain, this year proved no different.

City council park ranger Richie Baker said he had been pleasantly surprised at the numbers who had braved the poor weather and attended the event outside the Mansion House, where a special site had been set up for the conker fights.

Around 100 conker-ers, armed with their prized conkers, battled to earn the title of Liverpool Conker Champion and lift the coveted Golden Conker Award – made from a conker, sprayed with gold paint.

Mr Baker said: “Despite the gale force winds and horrendous rain people still came out in force to attend the championship.

For the uninitiated, the conker championships have strict rules, with competitors allowed six swings each. The person with the highest number of direct hits wins – if it’s a tie it goes to sudden death.

Competitors can use their own conkers, but park rangers will also provide some, and the string must be just four inches long, although this is increased to six inches for the final.

Mr Baker said: “We had set up a ‘boxing ring’ in front of the Mansion House and the conker battles all took place in it. It was a knockout competition, and we had different categories for under eights, eight to 12 years, 12-15 years, and adults.

“But it was the adults competition that was most hard fought, I think because the dads are so competitive and determined to win in front of their kids.”