The Derzhavin Regatta 2025 water sports festival was held on the Tsna River canal in the waters of the Eldorado beach.
The competition was organized by Derzhavin University with the support of the Government of Tambov Region, the Tambov city administration and the university’s partners.
The participants of the regatta were students and teachers of Derzhavin University, representatives of tourist clubs of Michurinsk, Kotovsk, Tambov, Bondary, Znamenka municipal districts. In total, about 50 crews took part in the start.
– Initially, the Derzhavin Regatta was conceived as a festival of water sports, which completes the cycle of events of the entire academic year. On the one hand, it is a sports event, on the other – a recreational one. This is active preparation for the upcoming summer season, – noted the rector of Derzhavin University Pavel Moiseev. – Tambov Region has strong traditions of sports water tourism on kayaks. The region’s teams have repeatedly become winners of the highest level championships. Therefore, the regatta attracts more and more participants every year. I hope that teams from other regions will join us next year.
The regatta program opened with a parade of all types of watercraft. Then the participants of the competition went to the start and took part in races on canoes, kayaks, and SUP boards.
According to the chief judge of the Derzhavin Regatta Anna Goverdovskaya, the competition is held on a 250-meter water track in two stages. Athletes on swimming craft reach the checkpoint, cover the distance and finish in the shortest possible time.
A special race at the regatta was held for family crews. The Shipinsky family's kayak started under number two. Team captain Dmitry is a 2002 graduate of Derzhavin University, his father, Aleksandr Ivanovich, graduated from the university back in 1970, and his daughter Daria is only planning to enter university. This team has repeatedly participated in water tourist trips, and they have conquered sports routes along northern and Siberian rivers.
– This is our first time participating in the Derzhavin Regatta. However, in previous years we came to the competition as fans. I am close to this sport, I like the organization of the sports festival, the youth movement, – comments Dmitry Shipinsky. – Our family always travels along the rivers of Siberia with great enthusiasm. It is unusual to visit taiga places, where you can meet a bear faster than a person. But kayaking trips on the Tsna and Vorona are always a club of like-minded people in water tourism. What do we expect from today? If we manage to get on the podium, it will be great. If not, then we will be happy for our rivals with a pure heart.
Students of the Institute of Medicine and Health Preservation of Derzhavin University – citizens of Morocco El Attari Mohammed and El Gzizal Yassir – formed their own crew. The young people are active volunteers, are fond of football, and demonstrated their skills in kayaking at the regatta.
– This is my second time participating in the Derzhavin Regatta. Today, my friend and I will compete with other crews in the race. There is a positive atmosphere, beautiful nature and a river here, – says El Attari Mohammed, a student at Derzhavin University. – In my homeland of Morocco, I have been into surfing since childhood. On the Atlantic coast, many people get on a surfboard at a very early age. Catching a wave is unforgettable.
The guests of the festival were treated to a concert program, a lottery, master classes on tying sea knots and setting up a tourist tent, Latin American "Bachata", making lemonade, and interactive quests. Foreign students studying at Derzhavin University demonstrated the art of mehendi - painting with natural henna.
The Health Point of medical volunteers worked at the regatta. Derzhavin students taught first aid skills and shared useful recommendations for improving health.
Participants of the Derzhavin Regatta – representatives of different ages and nationalities – were united by their love for sports and the desire to conquer the water element. The hot weather and high degree of sports competition added adrenaline and a great mood to the athletes and fans.
The winners of the Derzhavin Regatta were determined.
In the Family Crews category, the winner was the Agafontsev family from the Znamenka Municipal District.
In the Kayaking Race category (male crews), the winner was Ivan Kokryakov, a 4th-year cadet of the sea class of the L.S. Demin Multidisciplinary Cadet Corps.
In the SUP category, Yuri Kuksov from Tatanovo Secondary School was first on the podium.
In the Male Teaching Crews category, the winners were Sergey Saykin and Valery Yakovlev from the Physical Education and Sports Department of Derzhavin University.
In the Teachers – Mixed Crews category, Anatoly Agafontsev and Lyubov Agafontseva from the Znamenka Municipal District took first place.
In the category "Student male crews" the best were Vladislav Prokushev and Andrey Makarov - students of the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of Derzhavin University.
In the category "Mixed student crews" the team consisting of Dmitry Kalmykov and Sofia Smirnova - representatives of the Derzhavin University tourist club - won.
In the category "Student female crews" the best result was shown by Sofia Tatarko and Tatyana Denisova - the Derzhavin University tourist club.
