Gallery: Turkish riders get back in the saddle for nomadic games

Cirit a game developed by the Huns is returning to popularity on the Central Asian plains. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Riders in eastern Turkey play cirit, an equestrian sport that dates back to the martial horsemen who spearheaded the historical conquests of central Asia's Turkic tribes.

A recent match on a snow-covered field in Erzurum saw players from two of the province's clubs — the Comrades and the Experts — line up for a game that was developed more than 1,000 years ago to hone the cavalry skills developed by warriors including the Seljuks, who conquered Anatolia in the 11th century, and the Huns.

Selcuk Davulcu, 31, a horse groom for the Dadas (Comrades) local sporting club, kisses a horse prior to a game. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Cirit is one of many traditional sports encouraged by the government at festivals or to celebrate weddings. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

The sport revolves around a rider trying to spear his or her opponent with a "javelin" — these days, a rubber-tipped, meter-long piece of wood. The sport's Turkish name translates as javelin or dart.

The Turkish equestrian sport that dates back to the martial horsemen who spearheaded the historical conquests of central Asia. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Thirteen-year-old Muhammed Rasit, the youngest member of Uzmanlar sports club, feeds his horse prior to a game. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Riders from each team, which can number up to a dozen players, face each other, alternately acting as the thrower and the rider being chased. A match is held over two 35-minute periods.

As well as points awarded for hitting an opponent with a javelin, the evading rider can score by performing manoeuvres such as hanging from his horse's neck to avoid being struck or catching a javelin mid-air.

The game revolves around a rider trying to spear an opponent with a "javelin" - these days, a rubber-tipped dart. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

An ornament reading Masallah ('May God preserve him from evil') decorates a horse's head. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Riders are penalised for transgressions such as hitting an opponent's mount or riding outside of the playing area, which can be from 70 to 130 meters in length.

Cirit was popular within the Ottoman Empire, the successor to the Seljuks' domains, before it was banned in the early 19th century as the sultan sought to break up military elites. However, its popularity returned and it is now one of many traditional sports encouraged by the government.

Riders take turns acting as the thrower and the rider being chased. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Selcuk Davulcu, 31, a horse groom for the Dadas local sporting club, prepares the ground prior to a game of Cirit. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Arabian horses are favoured for their agility and can fetch up to 40,000 lira ($7,400). Tournaments are often arranged during festivals or to celebrate weddings.

Cirit was popular within the Ottoman empire, before it was banned as in the early 19th century. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

The game that was developed more than a 1,000 years ago. Photo / Kenan Asyali, AP

Cirit is also played among the Turkic populations of Iran, Afghanistan and other central Asian countries.

- Associated Press