August 9, 2020 – The 305th Sinjska Alka was held on Sunday in Sinj, under strict epidemiological measures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Slobodna Dalmacija reports that the Sinjska Alka is a well-known Croatian knight’s game, established in memory of the great victory of the Venetian army and the people of the Cetina region over the Ottomans on August 14, 1715. Seventeen Alkars competed in the Alka on Sunday, and the Alka festivities were held under special circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sinj Alka was attended by President Zoran Milanovic, president of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandrokovic, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, as well as a number of ministers.
Instead of the usual 5,000+ spectators lined along the Alka track, this year, there were only 1,400 spectators in the stands. All spectators had to give their name, surname and telephone number so that epidemiologists could do their job more easily should an outbreak occur.
The Alka duke signaled to start 305th Sinjska Alka just before 5 pm. Frano Ivkovic, the winner of the 304th Sinjska Alka, was the first to go, though his attempt was unsuccessful.
Ivo Zorica was named the winner of the Sinjska Alka on Sunday, after accumulating seven points on the legendary racetrack. After the third round, he escaped debutants Martin Susnjari and Nenad Maric.
Ivo Zorica was born in 1983, and according to his education, he is an economic technician employed at the PBZ branch in Sinj. He is married to Monica, with whom he has a son and a daughter, and comes from the famous Zorica family as the second Alkar. Accompanied by the flag, he made his debut in 2000, and in 2002 he became an Alkar spearman. From 2006 to 2013, he was the deputy alaj čauš.
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