Inside the World Conker Champion’s winning formula

As part of his training regime, Cross said he runs a couple of times each week, but steers clear of weight training, insisting strength has never been a problem when it comes to his conker-striking arm.

On competition day Cross fuels up with a full English breakfast and said a mid- competition hog roast bap and pint of beer kept him going.

“If I win it again this year, it will be the first time since 1976 there’s been a back-to-back winner so that’s one of the things I’m trying to achieve,” he said.

Cross said he worried about finding conkers for the competition due to the hot weather this year, but the committee confirmed it had a “sufficient amount of large playing conkers” for the event to go ahead.

Cross was crowned the overall World Conker Champion last year after beating women’s victor Mags Blake, of Corby.

When asked about recognition since his victory, Cross joked: “It’s not been too bad, it certainly petered off after Christmas.

“But to get recognised in a pub, that was probably the strangest thing.”

The health and safety advisor said people at work call him “King Conker”.

“It is quite funny,” he added. “It makes me laugh every time that people are invested.”