Aberdeen Asset Announce Team Sponsorship

Rob / 05.11.2003

Aberdeen Asset Management are the latest company to sponsor a top UK team, and they are starting out with a big, big race.

Team ‘Aberdeen Asset Management’ (formally known as Team Thomas Cook) are now in New Zealand putting the finishing touches to their preparations for the mighty Southern Traverse, which starts in Otago on 10th November. And this is only the first step in their partnership, as they company will also be supporting the team throughout the 2004 season in their quest for a place at the 2004 World Championships in Canada next August.

Douglas Connon, Director of Sponsorship and Corporate Affairs at Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the continued progress of the team and wish them every success as they embark on one the sport’s most high profile events. The Southern Traverse is a fitting climax to what has already been a highly successful 2003 season and we shall follow their progress with interest.”

The squad are led by Warren Bates and before he left the UK he said: “We are immensely grateful to Aberdeen Asset Management - and to our subsidiary sponsors - for their invaluable support. We would also like to express our thanks to Thomas Cook for their support during and since the 2003 Adrenalin Rush. We’re competing in the Southern Traverse with two specific objectives; first and foremost to win, but also to gain valuable experience as we approach next year’s World Championships.”

If the team can win they will be the first visitors ever to finish ahead of the Kiwi teams in one of the world’s oldest races, and they’ll have to beat other contenders from Australia, USA, Canada, France, New Caledonia, Russia, Korea and Denmark over 6 days on a tough 411 km course. Their sponsors have high standards to live up to as well - the other sporting event they support is The Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race.

The team’s subsidiary sponsors for Southern Traverse 2003 are; May Gurney, Grundon Waste Management and ….. SleepMonsters.com.

We’ll be following the progress of the team in our daily reports, which will be written by one of the sport’s most respected commentators, Derek Paterson, author of \"Adventure Racing, Guide to Survival\". Derek also grew up in the area where the race is taking place, so he’ll know exactly what challenges face Team Aberdeen Asset Management.