By Andrew Starke
The Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) owned Matilda Bay has announced the winner of its Fat Yak ‘Win a Racing Yak’ promotion, which attracted 13,000 entries.
Andrew Craine, a teacher from New South Wales, will saddle up against Mongolia’s finest yak racers this July for a test of strength, endurance and agility.
The yak, a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and as far north as Mongolia and Russia, can reach speeds of up to 18 kilometres per hour.
Craine will be taking his wife and his best mate with him to Mongolia and if his yak wins it will be the first time the coveted Ulan Bator Trophy has left the world's second-largest landlocked country.
According to CUB, the winner purchased one single case of Fat Yak for some Friday afternoon festivities and only entered the competition once.
“I am tickled pink,” said Craine. “Absolutely delighted. Who knew I would ever be off to Mongolia?”
“I’ve got my akubra and my Driza-bone ready to go. I’m going to show these Mongolians how it’s done.”
As part of the promotion, Matilda Bay invested its ‘entire global sponsorship budget’ into Mongolian yak racing, promising to send one lucky Fat Yak drinker to Mongolia to race a yak and meet the superstars of yak racing.
Matilda Bay produces a range of specialty beers including Fat Yak, Alpha Pale Ale, Beez Neez, Redback and Big Helga.
Traditionally Matilda Bay also launches a limited seasonal release for summer and winter.
These have included Crema, Barking Duck, Barking Flamingo and most recently Longshot.