Adventure Croatia riding Sinjska-Alka

Sinjska alka is a tournament in which competitors on horseback, dressed in ceremonial folk costume, riding at full gallop, tilt at an "alka". An alka is two small concentric rings joined by three, equidistant bars suspended over the end of a run. This tourney has taken place every year since 1715, to commemorate the victory of a small number of Sinj's citizens against Turkish armed forces.

 

On the first Sunday in August, every year a competition takes place here, brilliantly costumed knights (alkari) competing according to tourney rules preserved over the centuries. This great ceremonies last for a three days. On the first day the "Alkari" (tilters) complete for "Bara" and on the second for "Coja", which is the pre-qualification stage for the main competition. "Vojvoda" (the Duke) puts three meter long "Coja" (red homespun) on the winners lance point.

 

The competitors in knightly postures on galloping horses aim the ring target called "Alka" with their lances. "Alka" consists of two concentric iron rings linked by three bars dividing the space between the rings into three equal parts. A hit into the smallest central part gives three points, the top part two and the bottom parts one point each. The winner is the competitor that has collected the maximum number og points. Vojvoda ties a threecoloured flag called "plamenac" to the winner called "Slavodobitnik" and gives orders for the Alkar`s name to be recorded in golden letters in the Chronicle of Chivalrous Alkar (Tilting ) Club, saying: "For the coming generations to remember". The Alka tournament presents symbol of victory of the people of Sinj and the Cetina district from Turkish attacking. www.dalmacija.net