A BARRY pub sports club has thrown down the gauntlet to other Vale pubs after staging its annual conker contest.

Members of the Colcot Conker Club, based at the Colcot Arms, assembled at the pub to do battle with each other and win the sporting honour, but they want other teams to face them next season.

The men, some of the club’s 16 current members, entered the draw to win a small cup.

The traditional children’s game takes place using the newly gathered seeds of horse chestnut trees gathered from Wenvoe Grange. It involves two players who use a conker threaded onto a shoelace to strike each other's conker until one breaks completely off the string.

Colin Hicks, of Barry, oversaw the event which after two rounds, will resume next Sunday, October 30.

Mr Hicks, 51, said he had began playing as a child, but today he was defeated on first strike.

He said: “The rules are no tanglies, no knucklies, and no stampsies.

"When you come to conkering I prefer them with a flat top, round at the bottom. But if you get a big conker that’s always a threat to the opponent. The season typically ranges from September to October. It brings back memories of childhood.”

Steve Hooper, 43, of the Colcot, said: “I’m conker mad. I’m an ex-boxer who has now got into conkers because there’s no pool table in this pub. It’s better than being punched in the nose.

"I’d like us to take on other pubs in Barry.”

Granddad-of-seven, Lenny Dutton, of Barry, said he had been playing conkers for more than 50 years.

Mr Dutton, 60, said: “At this time of year we take the grandchildren to collect conkers. It’s outdoor fun – better than sitting in front of X-boxes.

"The best ones to have are ones with no splits or defects and baking them and soaking in vinegar overnight is not allowed in this competition.

He added: “The aim is to sense weakness in your opponent. I’ve been training for a few days – real meat and plenty of veg and leg exercises.

"Concentration and slight-of-hand is important. I’m doing it for pride and my grandchildren.”

The World Conker Championships take place in Ashton, Northamptonshire, annually on the second Sunday of October.