THE RED Stripe 'Beer Money a Run' truck stopped at the Four Seasons Hotel, New Kingston yesterday to hand over $5.5 million to the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).
The sponsor's money is to be used to run the 2006 Red Stripe Cricket Championship, the island's second tier two-day competition, which bowls off this weekend with five matches.
Yesterday's announcement represents an increase of $1 million over the company's sponsorship of last year's event.
This year's competition will also feature a new format. Unlike last year, the team that finishes the league with most points will be declared the winner.
Eleven teams, one less than last year, will be playing each other once over two days on a round-robin basis.
CHAMPIONS
Westmoreland emerged champions last year, scoring 44 points and just managing to edge fast-finishing Portland, who accumulated 42 points.
This year's winners will pocket $250,000 while the runners-up will receive $125,000.
Teams will collect $10,000 for an outright win, while winners on first innings will pocket $5,000. All teams will receive a one-time payment of $100,000 to help with costs. Batsmen scoring double centuries and bowlers getting 10 wickets in a match will earn $10,000, while $5,000 will be given for centuries and five-wicket hauls. The season's MVP will collect $25,000.
SUPPORTING CRICKET
In commenting on this year's sponsorship of the Red Stripe Cricket Championship, Joseph Oates, marketing manager for Red Stripe and Guinness said: "Red Stripe is more than pleased to be sponsoring this cricket competition which began last year as it fits in perfectly with our desire to support cricket at the national level, and it provides a real opportunity to showcase our product to one of Red Stripe's prime target markets."
In this weekend's feature match, demoted Kensington travel to Elgin Town to face Hanover. Kingston & St. Andrew take on St. Catherine Parish at Maxfield Park, Trelawny entertain St. Thomas at Bounty Hall, Police face Clarendon at Elletson Road and St. James go up against Boys' Town at Jarrett Park.
