Swedish Match Tour - Boberg Wins Inaugural Colorcraft Umpire Recognition Award

STAMFORD, CT, USA (11/12/2003) - Colorcraft, as part of its sponsorship of the Swedish Match Tour, and in support of the Colorcraft Umpire Program, presented the first annual “Colorcraft Umpire Award” to New Zealand’s Wayne Boberg at the recent Investors Guaranty Presentation of the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda.

The Colorcraft Umpire Recognition Award recognizes the top umpire on the Swedish Match Tour, based upon the criteria of fairness, respect, and congeniality.

Over the past year, skippers, crew and event organizers had been asked to nominate one umpire for this honor, with the winner ultimately determined by representatives from Colorcraft and the Swedish Match Tour.

“In every sport, the role of the umpire or referee is vital for the success of the event, and match racing is no exception,” said Bundy Walker, Chairwoman of Colorcraft, when announcing Boberg as the winner.

Unfortunately, Boberg was unable to be in Bermuda, so John Doerr, chief umpire for the week, accepted on his behalf.

However, Boberg did offer several prepared remarks including, “To be honored in this fashion, by those you serve, is a very humbling experience and please be assured that I hold this award in the very highest regard…on behalf of the umpiring fraternity my thanks to Colorcraft for their sponsorship of this award.”

For further information about the Colorcraft Group of companies, log on to colorcraft.com.hk.

For all the latest news and information about the Swedish Match Tour, visit www.swedishmatchtour.com.

About the Swedish Match Tour
· The Swedish Match Tour is comprised of nine of the world's leading professional sailing events and is proving to be the ultimate battleground of sailing.
· In addition to more than US$800,000 in individual event prize money, the Swedish Match Tour awards US$200,000 to the top eight sailors on the Swedish Match Tour, with the first-place skipper netting US$60,000.
· In addition to a US$60,000 first prize, the winner of the Swedish Match Tour receives the official Swedish Match Tour Championship Trophy, 15" (30 cm) high with 22 carat gold gilding, produced by Swedish Match Tour sponsor Wedgwood. Additionally, Wedgwood supplies runner-up prizes for second and third places as well as commemorative plaques to each event organizer.
· The Swedish Match Tour produces 155 hours of television coverage reaching more than 427 million households worldwide.
· Swedish Match Tour partners include Swedish Match, Octagon and the Match Race Association.
· Swedish Match Tour sponsors include Colorcraft, Champagne Mumm, Musto, Selden and Wedgwood.