Editing Conkers (section)

===Hardening conkers===
{{Refimprove section|date=October 2024}}
The hardest conkers usually win. Hardening conkers is often done by keeping them for a year (aged conkers are called ''laggies'' in many areas or ''seasoners'' in Ireland and Liverpool), baking them briefly, soaking or boiling in vinegar, or painting with clear nail varnish.  Such hardening is, however, usually regarded as cheating.

At the British Junior Conkers Championships on the [[Isle of Wight]] in October 2005, contestants were banned from bringing their own conkers out of fears that they might harden them. The [[Keith Flett|Campaign for Real Conkers]] claimed this was an example of over-regulation which was causing a drop in interest in the game. In both the World Conker Championship and the North American Championship, contestants are also restricted to using the conkers provided by the organisers.

One factor affecting the strength of a conker is the shape of the hole.  A clean cylindrical hole is stronger, as it has no notches or chips that can begin a crack or split.

The Peckham Conker Championships allow artificially hardened conkers, with some players even coating their conkers in [[epoxy resin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.huckmag.com/article/conkers-unlikely-contact-sport-london-peckham-championship |title=Conkers: The unlikely contact sport taking London by storm |last=Elliot |first=Lydia |date=Oct 19, 2023 |website=Hugmag |access-date=July 15, 2024}}</ref> This competition follows Battle Royale rules and also allows stampsies and stringies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://peckhamconker.club/rules |title=Battle Royale conker rules |website=Peckham Concker Club |access-date=July 15, 2024}}</ref>