The Alka of Sinj is an ancient knightly tournament in horseback riding in which alkars, riding on horses in full gallop, try to hit the steel alka ring that is hanging in from a rope across the racecourse with a spear.

Only virtuous natives of the Sinj and Cetina region, whose parents were also born there, may participate in the Alka. They also must be members of the Alka Knights Society in Sinj.

The Alka competition begins with a ceremonial procession. The squires are at the front in a column of two, and the chieftain (arambaša) marches between them, with his assistant marching between the last two squires.

The troop of squires also includes drummers, followed by a brass band.

Next is the standard bearer (barjaktar) with the flag of the Alka Knights Society, accompanied by two to six escorts with drawn sabres, all of them on horseback.

Next is the shield bearer, who marches between two mace bearers, followed by the Edek (horse without a rider) accompanied by two guides.

Next are the Duke’s adjutant and the Duke, followed by the alkar spearmen, riding in a column of two. The commander of the troop of alkar spearmen (alajčauš) rides at the rear.

The alka ring, the alka is made of wrought iron and consists of two rings with a shared centre. The loop for hanging the alka is located above the middle of one of three equal arches of the larger ring. Hitting into the little central ring (u sridu) brings three points, into the upper part two points, and hititng into one of the two lower parts brings one point.

On the first Sunday in August (providing that the last rehearsals, Bara and Čoja, held on the Friday and Saturday before the Alka, are also in August), the procession of alkars and the alkars’ squires appear at the upper part of the racecourse, in the full splendour of antique weapons and uniforms, together with a brass band playing traditional marches.

On both sides of the racecourse are the stands for spectators coming from everywhere. Crowds of people swarm from surrounding streets to reach the scene of the tournament. The little town turns into a real Babylon in which one can hear numerous foreign languages. Past and present stand facing each other.

The alkar, riding deep in the saddle in the alkar manner, aims at the alka hanging in the middle of a string stretched horizontally between two pillars stuck at the sides of the racecourse. The alka is placed at the height of 332cm, counting from its middle part to the ground. It is located 160m away from the Biljeg (the starting point) near Big Bridge. The alkar who has earned the greatest number of points after the third race is declared the winner. If two or more alkars have the same number of points after the third round, they have to continue to compete in additional playoffs called pripetavanje, which are played until one of them wins.

At the end of the tournament the Duke’s adjutant informs the Duke which alkar has the greatest number of points, and the Duke orders him to bring the alkar over. After the adjutant has escorted the alkar before the Duke, the Duke declares him the winner and puts the Croatian three-colour flag (plamenac) on his spear. This ceremonial act is accompanied by gun firing from the Old Town walls.