Zorica Wins 294th Alka Of Sinj Chivalry Contest

With three centre points, the winner of this year`s Alka of Sinj chivalry contest is the youngest participant, Ante Zorica.

The winner of the 294 th Alka of Sinj chivalry contest with the highest number of scored points in three rounds (9 points) is Ante Zorica, the youngest participant of this year`s tournament. The 25-year-old managed to pierce the alka ring in full gallop with his spear through the centre three times in a row.

Apart from Zorica, only Denis Gugic won all three points in the first round, who won the Alka tournament in 2002.

The second round was far more active. Andrija Hrgovic won three points, followed by Nenad Maric, Alen Filipovic-Grcic, Ante Zorica, Dusan Ivandic, Ante Poljak, Mario Susnjara and Denis Gugic.

In the third round, the highest number of points was won by Kristijan Bikic, Tino Radanovic, Andrija Hrgovic, Ante Zorica and Mario Susnjara. At this point only Gugic was able to threaten Zorica, but he scored only one point.

A total of 17 Alka spearmen competed. The winner of the tournament was given a golden ring with the Croatian coat of arms and sabre, a gift from the competition sponsor, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic. The Chivalry Alka Society presented the winner with a golden plaquette and 45,000 kuna.

Alka is a traditional chivalry tournament of the people of Sinj, which marks the memory of the Cetina krajina locals beating the Turkish Army, since August 15, 1715. Alka is also the name of the object used in the tournament, which consists of two concentric rings (connected with three bars 120 degrees apart. The object is hung on a rope 3.32 metres above the racetrack. The contestant (called an alkar) rides his horse down the race track and tries to hit the central ring of the alka circle with his spear in full gallop. Depending on which part of the alka he hits, he receives from 1 to 3 points, and no points if he misses. The contest consists of three rounds.