The first summer weekend gave EkoNiva employees and their family members an unforgettable experience. A big sporting event held in celebration of Milk Day and Children’s Day gathered more than 1,700 people on the sports grounds in the 11 regions of the Group’s presence. The children competed in short-distance races, while the adults covered the distances of 3, 5 and 10 kilometres.

In Voronezh and Voronezh oblast, around 200 amateur sportspeople – all of them EkoNiva employees – took part in the competition. At the finish line, the participants were met with memorable gifts. The running format alternated with other sports activities – tug of war and arm wrestling. The emotional performance of the Cossack children music group Prazdnik brought an immense pleasure and delight to all the participants of the event.

‘I can’t imagine my life without sport. I like swimming, of course, but what I find really fulfilling and thrilling is running. I’ve been taking part in the corporate races for three years, and each time it has brought me most positive experiences. I can’t wait for the next sports festival’, says Oleg Pyshchev, EkoNiva’s Retail Dairy Produce Sales Rep, the runner-up in the 5 km race.

One of the most large-scale races took place on the Group’s farm premises in Aleksandro-Nevskiy and Shatsk districts of Ryazan oblast. More than 300 adults and children not only ran their distance, but also took part in football, volleyball and other sports competitions. Corporate celebration atmosphere was also palpable at the stadium of Kaluga oblast’s Medyn, where 150 competitors had their fair share of emotions.

A mesmerizing race in Bugulma united employees of all 4 divisions in Volga region. Out of 150 runners, young female athletes were particularly active, demonstrating exceptionally good results.

An entertaining show with full-size dolls, face painting, lots of presents and treats from EkoNiva at the end of the running races – that’s how the sports festival in the Tatar land will be remembered.

In Moscow oblast, almost 100 people took part in the competition, and about just as many sports-loving employees met in Tyumen oblast.

‘This is the first time I’m taking part in a race of this kind! It feels as if I’m back to my college years, with the pleasant fatigue filling my entire body. This event is impressive on many levels, especially in how it unites an already tight-knit team not only work-wise, but also sports-wise, as well as it introduces children to a healthy lifestyle’, says Pavel Smyslov, Chief Veterinarian at Stupinskaya Niva, who took the first place among one-kilometre distance runners.

The hot weather was in no way an obstacle for successful races and the festive mood of 150 EkoNiva Sibir division employees and their family members. All the participants were awarded with memorable medals and pleasant gifts.

‘I’m a big fan of this event. It provides the opportunity to communicate with my colleagues in an informal atmosphere, outdoors, and get acquainted with their families. In spite of the fact, that I had trained at the school stadium ahead of the race, before the very start I got really anxious, since the track we had to run was in cross-country terrain and was still wet from the rain. Luckily, it turned out to be not that bad and I covered the distance pretty easily! I must admit, though, that the first place was still something I had to fight for: we ran toe to toe with Irina Moiseeva up to the very finish line. Until the award ceremony, suspense lingered: which one of us was the faster? As it turned out, I was the first, with Irina mere milliseconds behind. This victory encourages to conquer new running distances’, says Mariya Pozdnyakova, Administrator at EkoNiva-APK Holding.