Barban - Antonio Osip from the village of Draguzeti, riding his horse Bizi, was the winner of the 50th Ring Race (Trka na prstenac), held on Sunday in the Istrian town of Barban.
The presidential shield and dagger, as well as a gift on behalf of the event’s patron, President of the Republic of Croatia Zoran Milanović, were presented to him by presidential envoy Melita Mulić.
Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković, presented the 39-year-old winner with the Croatian Parliament’s gold medal, while the transitional award "Ring Race Bird", a sculpture by academic sculptor Josip Diminić, was handed to him by Istrian County Prefect Boris Miletić. In addition, he received a monetary prize of €5,000.
This event, whose first historical record dates back to 1696, was revived in 1976 after nearly three centuries of obscurity, and since then has continuously brought together the best horsemen of Istria and thousands of visitors from across Croatia and abroad.
"Trka na prstenac" is a traditional equestrian tournament in which riders gallop along a 150-metre track three times, aiming to spear a small iron ring, known as the prstenac. It is held annually on the penultimate weekend of August.
Since 2016, the Prstenac Race has been protected as an intangible cultural heritage of Croatia.
Jandroković: Race speaks of chivalry, courage, and boldness
At the opening ceremony, the parliament speaker Jandroković stated that the event preserves the tradition and identity of the region, enriches Istria’s tourism offering, and at the same time represents a race that speaks of chivalry, courage, and boldness.
"I see this race through three main elements, and the first relates to the preservation of our tradition and identity in today’s changing global world, a world full of challenges, new developments and things we’ve never encountered before," said Jandroković, adding that it is of great importance for the people of this region, the people of this nation, to recognise their roots and values, and to honour their history, identity, and tradition.
The second element, he said, is the fact that this event enriches Istria’s tourism offering, a region already well known for its excellence in tourism and as a place where people can live well and enjoy a high quality of life.
We are witnessing an event that is important not only for Barban and Istria but also for Croatia as a whole. The third key point is that this race speaks of chivalry – it showcases a skill rooted in courage and boldness, but also embodies the spirit of fair play, something we might need more of here in Croatia. We are witnessing the skill of our competitors, and I hope that all of us can be just as fair and respectful towards one another as the participants in the Ring Race," Jandroković emphasised.
Tourism and Sport Minister Tonči Glavina said that Croatia is proud of its history and heritage, and that this very event in Barban helps to preserve it. In his view, it is proof that Croatia has much more to offer than just sun and sea.