The Sinjska Alka is an annual chivalric tournament that has been held in Sinj since the 18th century, in the Cetinska krajina region.
This equestrian competition held every first Sunday in August since 1715. This monument honors an Ottoman–Venetian victory on August 14, 1715, in the Sinj saga, where the local Christian population led by 700 Croats, with a small number of Venetians, successfully defended Sinj against 60,000 Ottoman soldiers led by Mehmed-Pasa Ćelić. This victory enabled the Venetians to retain control over Sinj and incorporate it into Venetian Dalmatia according to the terms of the 1718 Passarowitz Treaty.
It is believed that Lady of Sinj miraculously drove away Ottomans, thus helping Sinj's people defend their town. The procession is organized on August 15 in honor of Our Lady of Sinj during the national holiday of Velika Gospa. During this festival, horsemen in full regalia (Alkari) carry a painting of Our Lady of Sinj by hand through the streets. It is an equestrian event in which several horsemen are allowed to run full speed while aiming their lances at a metal ring (alka), and are rewarded points based upon which sector of the ring they penetrate.
The contest consists of knights riding horses at full gallop along a street and shooting lances at an iron ring hanging from a rope. According to the tournament rules, codified in a statute from 1833, fair play and ethics are promoted, as is participation in community life. The participants must be from local families living in Sinj or the Cetinska krajina region. As many points as possible must be collected in three attempts during the race. During the race, all equipment must remain on the horse and Alkar. One piece of equipment may fall off, but if the Alkar is unaware of it, he must get permission from the Alka Duke for another attempt. If the Alkar notices any pieces have fallen off, he must run through without hitting the Alka.
In order to support the continuation of the tradition, the entire community helps make, conserve, restore, and reconstruct weapons, clothes, and accessories. However, this tournament is also intertwined with local religious practices, social gatherings, family visits, and outdoor celebrations. There are no other examples of medieval knightly competitions held in the Croatian coastal towns until the 19th century than Sinjska Alka. In the process, it has become a marker of local history and a medium through which collective memory is passed on.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/sinjska-alka-a-knights-tournament-in-sinj-00357) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinjska_alka)