The Bank of Butterfield have been confirmed as new sponsors of the Cup Match Most Valuable Player Award following last year's controversy.

Previous sponsors Camel withdrew their backing, ending an 18-year relationship with the Bermuda Cricket Board, at the beginning of the season.

A year ago following Somerset's victory, the two Cup Match clubs failed to reach an agreement over which player should receive the prestigious award.

Nearly two weeks after the match ended, St.George's' colt Travis Smith was finally chosen over Somerset's Dennis Pilgrim - but only after Camel representatives stepped in to break the stalemate.

This year a neutral panel of judges have been assembled to decide the recipient.

"Both clubs got together and decided it was best to have neutral adjudicators instead of having the clubs do it themselves," confirmed St.George's Cricket Club president Neil Paynter yesterday.

"We (Cup Match clubs) meet three times a year and we had been in discussions over the matter during all three of them. We are very pleased to have the Bank of Butterfield come onboard to sponsor the award."

Meanwhile, the recipient of the Safe Hands Award, presented to best fielder over the two-day holiday classic, will receive two free airline tickets to a major US destination, courtesy of Black Star Communications.

Last year, Clay Smith became the first St.George's player to win the award now entering its sixth year in existence.

"The eventual winner will again receive the Calvin (Bummy) Symonds Cup and once again we are really looking forward to it," said Black Star Communications chairman Rolf Commissiong yesterday.

"The award will again be presented to the best fielder by a special panel of judges over the course of the two-day event. Outside of the actual cup, the winner will receive round trip airline tickets to one of the US gateway cities and two $50 Black Star Communications phone cards among a host of other smaller valued prizes."