They were expelled from the society in 2001 when they criticised the then leadership for politicising this society and that unique jousting tournament in today's Europe, which takes place in this town in the Split hinterland every August in tribute to a victory of local citizens who defeated the Ottoman forces in 1715. Alkars, lance-wielding horsemen dressed in traditional costume, match their skills as they target a metal ring ("Alka") suspended over a race track, during the tournament.
The Alka in 2001 was marked by many scandals when the then VAD leadership prevented the winner Peric from taking over presents sent by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic under whose auspices the event was organised. President Mesic cancelled his sponsorship and foreign diplomats stopped coming to the tournament in the following years owing to politically-motivated scandals that surrounded Alka events.
Earlier this month, Croatian president Mesic said he would accept the auspices over the 291st Sinjska Alka Jousting Tournament, adding however, he was not yet certain whether or not he would attend the tournament.
During his meeting with the Sinj Mayor and other town representatives in Zagreb on 18 July, Mesic told his guests that the town of Sinj and the Alka Society had done a lot to change the atmosphere surrounding the tournament.
Sinj Mayor Nikola Tomasevic apologized for all humiliations Mesic had had to face in Sinj, expressing hope such incidents would never happen again and that there would be no more room for politics in the Alka tournament.
With today's move, the current VAD leadership admitted that the three 'disobedient' Alkars, who disagreed with the former VAD leadership, were unfairly expelled from the society.
Breko, Peric and Preost said today that they had agreed not to take part in this year's tournament as the preparations were near completion and it was too late for them to join other Alkars, but they announced their participation in next year's tournament.
This year's three-day event is scheduled for the first weekend in August with the finals being held on 6 August, Sunday.