Yorkshire 2015: Win tickets for every championship match

The Brewery is giving away the tickets to celebrate its second three-year term of sponsorship with the Club.

To win this fabulous prize courtesy of Black Sheep, just answer the following question...

Who is Yorkshire’s first-team coach?

a): Jason Gillespie

b): Dickie Bird

c): Geoffrey Boycott

Text: YPN (space) SHEEP (space) A,B or C (space) your name, address and email to 65550. Example: YPN SHEEP B Name, Address, Email. Lines close Thursday, April 16

Terms & Conditions: Johnston Press are the publishers of The Yorkshire Post. Texts cost £1.50 plus your standard network rate. Entries received after the stated competition closing deadline will not be counted but you may still be charged. Multiple entries accepted. Open only to UK residents over 18years old. Bill payers permission must be obtained before entering. Ten winners will receive two tickets to every CC home matchand will be notified by phone on telephone number used to enter after Thursday April 16, 2015. This is a Johnston Press Group competition. SMS service provided by MGage, London, SE1 8ND. No cash alternative. By entering, you are indicating that you are are happy to receive offers from Johnston Press plc. by SMS. Please add NOINFO at the end of your text entry if you do not wish to receive these. Helpline: 020 7633 5000. Usual Johnston Press rules apply, go to www.johnstonpress.co.uk/competition.

Black Sheep Competition Rules: Not open to Black Sheep Brewery employees or families. Prize cannot be exchanged and has no monetry value. Winners may be required to appear in some form of promotion for Black Sheep. Prize is for tickets only and winners must make own way to event.

Competition Code: YPT1515COAA

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The partnership ensures that the two Yorkshire icons remain firmly allied for the 2015 season and beyond, and the ongoing partnership was toasted during a visit by players’ and coaching staff to the brewery in Masham.

First-team coach Jason “Dizzy” Gillespie, director of cricket Martyn Moxon, all-rounder Richard Pyrah and wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd were among the stars given a special guided tour of the Brewery by Black Sheep’s managing director Rob Theakston and brother Jo, head of sales and marketing.

Fans attending the matches can once again enjoy some of the UK’s favourite beers from the Black Sheep Brewery, in bars around the ground at Headingley and on special bars for international fixtures.

Rob Theakston, managing director of Black Sheep Brewery, said: “This partnership brings together two important elements of Yorkshire culture in beer and cricket and we’re proud to be the official beer of the club. It’s fantastic to be able to offer this fantastic prize to 10 lucky winners and their guests.

“Visitors to Headingley have come to see a pint of Black Sheep as an important part of their match-day experience.

“Welcoming Jason, Martyn, Andy and Richard and the guys from Yorkshire County Cricket Club to the Black Sheep Brewery for a special tour and to spend time with beer and cricket fans was a fitting way to toast the new partnership.

“We are looking forward to an exciting summer, which we hope will be a huge success for the region, on the cricket pitch, on the roads of the Tour de Yorkshire, and in the pubs across the county, where drinkers continue to enjoy great Yorkshire beer, brewed in Masham.”

Coach of the current county champions Jason Gillespie said: “It is fantastic to have these two Yorkshire icons, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Black Sheep Brewery, partnering together again for the future.

“We had a great time at the Black Sheep Brewery, meeting members of the famous Theakston family and some of our fans as well. During my time in cricket, I have never before had the privilege of playing in an area as intensely proud as Yorkshire. You can see the pride the Black Sheep boys have for their beer, just as the region has for its cricket team.

“So, it is only fitting that this relationship is toasted with Yorkshire’s finest beer.”

The Black Sheep Brewery in Masham made its first beer in 1992 after being built up by Paul Theakston, whose family had brewed in the area for six generations.

In a world of ever-increasing bland, mass-produced beer Paul saw an opportunity to return to what his family had done best since 1827, making real beer in the time-honoured fashion.

An old maltings building, once part of Lightfoot’s Brewery became the Brewery’s home. This landmark building, which stands high over the banks of the Ure, had fallen in to disrepair as years of neglect as a semi-redundant grainstore had taken its toll. Paul assembled a small team around him to fight the rats and build a traditional country brewery.

The Black Sheep Brewery name derived from Masham’s association with sheep, but ‘Sheep Brewery’ didn’t quite sound right, so with a little creativity from Paul’s wife the Black Sheep Brewery was born, a name that sat well with the area, spoke volumes about the maverick attitude to the multi-nationals seeking to dominate the brewing industry and captured the essence of the family struggle that led to our birth.

Black Sheep Ale at 4.4% ABV, now in an eco-friendly lightweight bottle, continues to maintain its presence among the top 10 premium bottled ale brands, and is available nationwide from virtually all the major supermarket retailers.

It is a classic premium bitter and, as with all Black Sheep beers, full of character derived from the best possible brewing materials, plenty of time and patience in the brewing and our very special Yorkshire Square fermenters.

In 2014, Black Sheep Best Bitter – Yorkshire’s best-selling cask ale – underwent a facelift to broaden its appeal, evolving the look, while retaining all of the great taste that has made it an iconic brand.

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