Mihovil Župa Wins Čoja in Sinj for the Second Time with Two Bull's-Eyes
The second competition of the 311th Sinj Alka Games took place at the Alka Racetrack in Sinj, with Jure Domazet Lošo winning the Bara.
The second competition of the 311th Sinj Alka Games took place at the Alka Racetrack in Sinj, with Jure Domazet Lošo winning the Bara.
Alkar Mihovil Župa is the winner of this year's Čoja competition, held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Alka Racetrack in Sinj. In three thrilling races, he accumulated a total of seven points, hitting the bull's-eye twice, while in the second race he scored one point.
The competition began with excellent shooting, and in the first race, three alkars, Frano Talaja, Mihovil Župa, and Frano Ivković, hit the bull's-eye. A total of 17 alkars scored 28 points in the first race. However, in the second race, the excitement waned, with only 18 points scored. The only one to hit the bull's-eye in the second race was Pavao Prolić, who thus joined Frano Talaja at the top with five points each.
The key moment came in the third and final race. After Ante Zorica and Josip Jadrijević hit the bull's-eye, setting the stage for drama, Mihovil Župa took to the track and, with his second bull's-eye, jumped to first place with seven points. None of the remaining alkars managed to match that score. The leading duo, Talaja and Prolić, failed to equal Župa, who thus secured his second career victory in the Čoja.
The stands on both sides of the racetrack were very well filled. Unlike the spectacular Bara, which ended late into the night due to rain, this time the precipitation bypassed Sinj at just the right moment. It rained until about half an hour before the start of the competition, then the sky cleared, and the weather became pleasant for the knightly contest and enjoyment in the stands.
Alkarski vojvoda Mario Šušnjara tied 311 centimeters of red čoja to his lance, the symbol of this prestigious victory. According to Ferata, the Viteško alkarsko društvo (VAD) will award him five thousand euros, while Dalmacija News reports that the monetary prize has already been presented. Župa and his alkar assistant Ante Bradarić (46) from Hrvace will also receive silver plaques of the Alka. The winner rode the mare Anabela, owned by Ivan Kovačević, during the competition.
A native of Sinj born in 1988, Mihovil Župa lives in Košute. By education, he is a traffic technician and electrical technician, and he is employed at HEP-Proizvodnja, at the Zakučac hydroelectric power plant near Omiš. This is his third major Alka trophy: as a debutant among lancers at the 306th Sinjska alka, he became the winner with seven points, and in 2024 he already won the Čoja once, then with ten points.
A day earlier, on Friday, the competition for the Bara was held. After three regular races, Jure Domazet Lošo, Bože Mandac, and Andrija Hrgović each had six points, so the winner was decided in a runoff. Domazet Lošo scored two points in the additional competition, while Mandac failed to score any, making Domazet Lošo the winner.
After the Bara and Čoja, on Sunday, August 9, the most important event is scheduled, the 311th Sinjska alka, where alkars will compete for the title of winner and the winner's banner. The race will be broadcast live on Hit radio starting at 4:30 PM.
In the ceremonial Alka lodge, Saturday's competition was attended by the hosts: Stipe Jukić, president of the Viteško alkarsko društvo, Miro Bulj, mayor of Sinj, and fra Marinko Vukman, guardian of the Franciscan Monastery and administrator and rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Sinj.
