![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPT7YKEFBFDSIPVSJCIP4HJIXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=44dcc72c1105a5bd9c44e0968c4f63906e11fa1348e1f9434cc2c7f7d5735672&width=400&height=225)
A player performs acrobatics while riding his horse at full gallop, to avoid being hit by a javelin during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/THINLZBJPKEYTCEDCDNMJGGO34.jpg?smart=true&auth=22513b5101cabcfb62dab6787dbcdb23a2e260ee801ca1149da78f3feee9766d&width=400&height=225)
Players and horses line up before the Turkish Javelin Throw League friendly jereed game between Uzmanlar Sports Club and Dadas Sports Club, in Erzurum, eastern Anatolia, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VSQMTWVXWDNOVHOLH6644F5IU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=309c4bb9dcabe0200eaeb7137a37c8df0a1d998e7501493777c7abc47f567b78&width=400&height=225)
A horse wearing decorated headgear, pictured before the start of a jereed game. The sport originated among Turkish nomadic tribes, for whom the horse was an essential and sometimes sacred animal. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K5FIVPUZLS5S5HTHTFZJ77BK5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c0d98125a9c71c81abcd299e94629dd0f4446c3316f3a675a1d41e46519b2e7&width=400&height=225)
A competitor's horse stumbles during a jereed game, in Erzurum, Turkey. A match lasts for two 45-minute periods. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SPNPBK7XVMQT6YEIPGVD3ICJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ec19a56fe418be95f599ea801ee5512c8fdd6fe05e53fdb8cc19de7eeb433a3&width=400&height=225)
Spectators watch as a competitor warms up before a jereed game in Erzurum, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FJVBZOYNX7VPEEHHDSSW7FCSIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=47724d89c05365d75ec7e5b766d4838e21ed9efe82ee99edace48cc6c6f644db&width=400&height=225)
A horse with an elaborately embroidered halter, decorated with tassels and beads, before a jereed match in Erzurum, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F73ZVPZOEWMDOBRVC32YCRFX4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=2992cdcd3a2fb4b0efbf18be63214c3a77aef5da35c6198a531c2041b81f6fba&width=400&height=225)
Players warm up before their jereed match against a wintry background in Erzurum, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAPGAXXKYUTSE4NK32LXAH5DYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=66837a22a677599125aa2ea2ed92d6c4866eac0312663fadba302b05cf32b987&width=400&height=225)
A jereed player launches a javelin at an opponent during a game in Erzurum, Turkey. Modern javelins are usually made of light poplar wood and tipped with rubber to reduce injuries. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKMHUZ2ICSY64B7MZ2HSASUS5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=c050869e53be4992e5077998976453b0c99577508ec0101c21b23e2f625ef406&width=400&height=225)
A player prepares for the start of a jereed game, in Erzurum, Turkey. The sport developed as a means of training cavalry. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OWXHPT2R3WDDW5V7HKDQLDCWXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7c20781fedf987cb1cb2af89482d4d77830888ff669222793484b040fab45fa5&width=400&height=225)
A player prepares to launch a javelin at an opponent during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. It is against the rules to hit a horse, and results in the offender being sent off. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W54YAFFKSLY6PU7QPCE6VHJ3VI.jpg?smart=true&auth=af92c3b6cb0d66ffd3fc098ceb23e042c675ae0e79193576f300d34c22ed6deb&width=400&height=225)
Players confront each other at full gallop, during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. A player wins points if he hits an opponent with his javelin or catches an opponent's javelin in mid-air. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/INTX4IWTME37EHYYSXRELY5EDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f3738f38119f7e80e1ae01d122482b06dbff8e9af1fcaaaf565203751366310&width=400&height=225)
Jereed players in Erzurum, Turkey. The sport has become a big tourist attraction in Erzurum, and is played there all year round. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FJDHNJNU2JW5NNAC3ZOTTFCFXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8504da56605cf66d48289b8ace12a4e54f29436959679ef560635d1013ac239f&width=400&height=225)
A jereed player in full pursuit of an opponent in Erzurum, Turkey. In the past, an elite class of cavalry was formed from skilled jereed players. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPT7YKEFBFDSIPVSJCIP4HJIXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=44dcc72c1105a5bd9c44e0968c4f63906e11fa1348e1f9434cc2c7f7d5735672&width=400&height=225)
A player performs acrobatics while riding his horse at full gallop, to avoid being hit by a javelin during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/THINLZBJPKEYTCEDCDNMJGGO34.jpg?smart=true&auth=22513b5101cabcfb62dab6787dbcdb23a2e260ee801ca1149da78f3feee9766d&width=400&height=225)
Players and horses line up before the Turkish Javelin Throw League friendly jereed game between Uzmanlar Sports Club and Dadas Sports Club, in Erzurum, eastern Anatolia, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VSQMTWVXWDNOVHOLH6644F5IU4.jpg?smart=true&auth=309c4bb9dcabe0200eaeb7137a37c8df0a1d998e7501493777c7abc47f567b78&width=400&height=225)
A horse wearing decorated headgear, pictured before the start of a jereed game. The sport originated among Turkish nomadic tribes, for whom the horse was an essential and sometimes sacred animal. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K5FIVPUZLS5S5HTHTFZJ77BK5I.jpg?smart=true&auth=0c0d98125a9c71c81abcd299e94629dd0f4446c3316f3a675a1d41e46519b2e7&width=400&height=225)
A competitor's horse stumbles during a jereed game, in Erzurum, Turkey. A match lasts for two 45-minute periods. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4SPNPBK7XVMQT6YEIPGVD3ICJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5ec19a56fe418be95f599ea801ee5512c8fdd6fe05e53fdb8cc19de7eeb433a3&width=400&height=225)
Spectators watch as a competitor warms up before a jereed game in Erzurum, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FJVBZOYNX7VPEEHHDSSW7FCSIU.jpg?smart=true&auth=47724d89c05365d75ec7e5b766d4838e21ed9efe82ee99edace48cc6c6f644db&width=400&height=225)
A horse with an elaborately embroidered halter, decorated with tassels and beads, before a jereed match in Erzurum, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F73ZVPZOEWMDOBRVC32YCRFX4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=2992cdcd3a2fb4b0efbf18be63214c3a77aef5da35c6198a531c2041b81f6fba&width=400&height=225)
Players warm up before their jereed match against a wintry background in Erzurum, Turkey. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAPGAXXKYUTSE4NK32LXAH5DYE.jpg?smart=true&auth=66837a22a677599125aa2ea2ed92d6c4866eac0312663fadba302b05cf32b987&width=400&height=225)
A jereed player launches a javelin at an opponent during a game in Erzurum, Turkey. Modern javelins are usually made of light poplar wood and tipped with rubber to reduce injuries. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GKMHUZ2ICSY64B7MZ2HSASUS5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=c050869e53be4992e5077998976453b0c99577508ec0101c21b23e2f625ef406&width=400&height=225)
A player prepares for the start of a jereed game, in Erzurum, Turkey. The sport developed as a means of training cavalry. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OWXHPT2R3WDDW5V7HKDQLDCWXE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7c20781fedf987cb1cb2af89482d4d77830888ff669222793484b040fab45fa5&width=400&height=225)
A player prepares to launch a javelin at an opponent during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. It is against the rules to hit a horse, and results in the offender being sent off. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W54YAFFKSLY6PU7QPCE6VHJ3VI.jpg?smart=true&auth=af92c3b6cb0d66ffd3fc098ceb23e042c675ae0e79193576f300d34c22ed6deb&width=400&height=225)
Players confront each other at full gallop, during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. A player wins points if he hits an opponent with his javelin or catches an opponent's javelin in mid-air. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/INTX4IWTME37EHYYSXRELY5EDU.jpg?smart=true&auth=8f3738f38119f7e80e1ae01d122482b06dbff8e9af1fcaaaf565203751366310&width=400&height=225)
Jereed players in Erzurum, Turkey. The sport has become a big tourist attraction in Erzurum, and is played there all year round. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FJDHNJNU2JW5NNAC3ZOTTFCFXA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8504da56605cf66d48289b8ace12a4e54f29436959679ef560635d1013ac239f&width=400&height=225)
A jereed player in full pursuit of an opponent in Erzurum, Turkey. In the past, an elite class of cavalry was formed from skilled jereed players. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPT7YKEFBFDSIPVSJCIP4HJIXM.jpg?smart=true&auth=44dcc72c1105a5bd9c44e0968c4f63906e11fa1348e1f9434cc2c7f7d5735672&width=400&height=225)
A player performs acrobatics while riding his horse at full gallop, to avoid being hit by a javelin during a game of jereed in Erzurum, Turkey. EPA
Javelins on horseback - a jereed match in pictures
The sport is a traditional Turkish equestrian team game
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The National
06 March, 2021
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