A day of perfect scores
4
perfect 180s
4 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- ELJEFE SMOKE · Chicken
- Q Shanty · Pork
- CHUNKY BBQ · Pork
Kora Kares for Kids 2024
Aug 17–18, 2024 · Hiram, ME · 📍 Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds · State championship
Reps: Carol Bigler, Randy G Bigler · Prize money: $7,300
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY won Grand Champion at the Kora Kares for Kids on August 17, 2024 in Hiram, ME at Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds, scoring 693.6688 in a field of 39 teams. SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.2516. Category winners: Chicken — ELJEFE SMOKE (180.0000); Pork Ribs — PADDY MCQ'S (178.8572); Pork — Q Shanty (180.0000); Brisket — FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY (177.7144). This is the 1st of 6 editions of this contest on record; the next was held in 2024.
The contest at a glance (read off the scored boards)
How the field scored
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
591.22
median 667.35
693.67 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 180 🔥
- Pork Ribs 178.86
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.71
141.07
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2024 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
39
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
693.6688
Winning margin
3.4172
GC over RC
Field average
661.88
591.22693.67
median 667.35 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Brisket
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
680.5372
591.22693.67
10th place overall
Field spread
102.4456
winner to last place
Prize money
$7,300
on the line
Double threats
5
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 59%
beats 41% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.65 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,547
avg power rating going in · stronger than 35% of contests
Storylines (3 found in this contest's numbers)
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 14 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 5–6: Dummer BBQ and Pork Butt Paradise tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 9–10: Titans of BBQ and LG bbq tied on 171.9772 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 1–2: Q Shanty and CHUNKY BBQ tied on 180.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Chicken 9–10 · tie
- Pork 1–2 · tie
- Pork 2–3 · tie
How the title was won
2 of 4
meats called to the stage
FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY took the title on 2 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was chicken at 22nd.
- Chicken 22nd
- Pork Ribs 16th
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 1st
Score curves (score by finishing position — steep cliffs mean a spread field, flat lines a knife fight)
Category showdown (top / average / median score per meat)
Score distribution
Biggest rating movers (power-rating points won and lost at this contest)
Did form hold? (pre-contest rating vs overall finish — ratings called it if the dots climb to the right)
This contest over the years full contest page →
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2024 ← this one | Hiram, ME | Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds | 39 | 693.6688 | Fire at the End of the Day | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Aug 17, 2024 | Hiram, ME | Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds | 35 | 180 | 16 Mesh BBQ | — |
| Aug 16, 2025 | Hiram, ME | Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds | 40 | 699.9772 | Angry Cock | CANYON RIDERS BBQ |
| Aug 16, 2025 | Hiram, ME | Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds | 39 | 178.8572 | Bone Patrol | — |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Hiram, ME | Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds | 51 | 709.1316 | Old Virginia Smoke | Smoke Sisters |
| Aug 15, 2026 | Hiram, ME | Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds | 53 | 178.8572 | THE BBQ BUS | — |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 180 | 173.1200 | 171.9772 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.8572 | 173.1428 | 169.1316 |
| Pork | 180 | 176 | 172.5600 |
| Brisket | 177.7144 | 174.8572 | 169.1428 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
39 entries · top 693.6688 · median 667.3488
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 4 | Dummer BBQ | |
| 5 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 6 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 7 | UP-2 BBQ | |
| 8 | LG bbq | |
| 9 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 10 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 11 | Q Shanty | |
| 12 | Q42 | |
| 13 | CycloneBBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin' Jacks BBQ | |
| 15 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 16 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 17 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 18 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 19 | Big Bobby's Q | |
| 20 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 21 | Pork Butt Paradise | |
| 22 | Let It Smoke Barbecue | |
| 23 | 16 Mesh BBQ | |
| 24 | Hillside BBQ | |
| 25 | Cousins Que | |
| 26 | Smokin' Good Times | |
| 27 | Cook the books | |
| 28 | Ossipee Mountain Smokers | |
| 29 | Willy Nilly BBQ | |
| 30 | Matt's Backyard BBQ | |
| 31 | Up In Your Grill | |
| 32 | Pray For Me BBQ | |
| 33 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 34 | Beantown Smokers | |
| 35 | Team Agave | |
| 36 | Squeal Team Six | |
| 37 | Fleetwood Smoke | |
| 38 | Limp Brisket | |
| 39 | Two Lips BBQ |
Chicken
39 entries · top 180 · median 169.1200 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 5 | Dummer BBQ | |
| 6 | Pork Butt Paradise | |
| 7 | Q42 | |
| 8 | Big Bobby's Q | |
| 9 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 10 | LG bbq | |
| 11 | Pray For Me BBQ | |
| 12 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 13 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 14 | Smokin' Jacks BBQ | |
| 15 | Hillside BBQ | |
| 16 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 17 | CycloneBBQ | |
| 18 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 19 | 16 Mesh BBQ | |
| 20 | UP-2 BBQ | |
| 21 | Let It Smoke Barbecue | |
| 22 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 23 | Cook the books | |
| 24 | Beantown Smokers | |
| 25 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 26 | Willy Nilly BBQ | |
| 27 | Q Shanty | |
| 28 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 29 | Matt's Backyard BBQ | |
| 30 | Up In Your Grill | |
| 31 | Cousins Que | |
| 32 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 33 | Team Agave | |
| 34 | Squeal Team Six | |
| 35 | Smokin' Good Times | |
| 36 | Fleetwood Smoke | |
| 37 | Ossipee Mountain Smokers | |
| 38 | Two Lips BBQ | |
| 39 | Limp Brisket |
Pork Ribs
39 entries · top 178.8572 · median 167.4172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | 16 Mesh BBQ | |
| 4 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 5 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 6 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 7 | Smokin' Good Times | |
| 8 | CycloneBBQ | |
| 9 | UP-2 BBQ | |
| 10 | Q42 | |
| 11 | Smokin' Jacks BBQ | |
| 12 | LG bbq | |
| 13 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 14 | Dummer BBQ | |
| 15 | Q Shanty | |
| 16 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 17 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 18 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 19 | Matt's Backyard BBQ | |
| 20 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 21 | Cousins Que | |
| 22 | Let It Smoke Barbecue | |
| 23 | Ossipee Mountain Smokers | |
| 24 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 25 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 26 | Willy Nilly BBQ | |
| 27 | Hillside BBQ | |
| 28 | Up In Your Grill | |
| 29 | Pork Butt Paradise | |
| 30 | Big Bobby's Q | |
| 31 | Cook the books | |
| 32 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 33 | Squeal Team Six | |
| 34 | Pray For Me BBQ | |
| 35 | Two Lips BBQ | |
| 36 | Limp Brisket | |
| 37 | Team Agave | |
| 38 | Fleetwood Smoke | |
| 39 | Beantown Smokers |
Pork
39 entries · top 180 · median 166.2972 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q Shanty | |
| 2 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 3 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 4 | Dummer BBQ | |
| 5 | Hillside BBQ | |
| 6 | Big Bobby's Q | |
| 7 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 8 | CycloneBBQ | |
| 9 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 10 | LG bbq | |
| 11 | Smokin' Jacks BBQ | |
| 12 | Q42 | |
| 13 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 14 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 15 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 16 | Ossipee Mountain Smokers | |
| 17 | Pray For Me BBQ | |
| 18 | UP-2 BBQ | |
| 19 | Willy Nilly BBQ | |
| 20 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 21 | Cook the books | |
| 22 | Team Agave | |
| 23 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 24 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 25 | Cousins Que | |
| 26 | 16 Mesh BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 28 | Beantown Smokers | |
| 29 | Up In Your Grill | |
| 30 | Smokin' Good Times | |
| 31 | Pork Butt Paradise | |
| 32 | Fleetwood Smoke | |
| 33 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 34 | Matt's Backyard BBQ | |
| 35 | Let It Smoke Barbecue | |
| 36 | Squeal Team Six | |
| 37 | Limp Brisket | |
| 38 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 39 | Two Lips BBQ |
Brisket
39 entries · top 177.7144 · median 165.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE AT THE END OF THE DAY | |
| 2 | UP-2 BBQ | |
| 3 | Mullen It Over BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 5 | GOOD GOOGLY GOO BBQ | |
| 6 | Let It Smoke Barbecue | |
| 7 | Beantown Smokers | |
| 8 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 9 | Pork Butt Paradise | |
| 10 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 11 | LG bbq | |
| 12 | New Pigs on the Block | |
| 13 | Cousins Que | |
| 14 | Smokin' Good Times | |
| 15 | Dummer BBQ | |
| 16 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 17 | CHUNKY BBQ | |
| 18 | Q42 | |
| 19 | Team Agave | |
| 20 | Q Shanty | |
| 21 | Matt's Backyard BBQ | |
| 22 | Ossipee Mountain Smokers | |
| 23 | Titans of BBQ | |
| 24 | Smokin' Jacks BBQ | |
| 25 | CycloneBBQ | |
| 26 | Up In Your Grill | |
| 27 | Grumpy Old Patriot Barbeque | |
| 28 | Cook the books | |
| 29 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 30 | Meat Monarchy | |
| 31 | Big Bobby's Q | |
| 32 | Willy Nilly BBQ | |
| 33 | Squeal Team Six | |
| 34 | 16 Mesh BBQ | |
| 35 | Pray For Me BBQ | |
| 36 | Hillside BBQ | |
| 37 | Two Lips BBQ | |
| 38 | Fleetwood Smoke | |
| 39 | Limp Brisket |
Ancillary categories
Run by the organizers alongside the sanctioned contest. These are judged on their own terms and do not count toward the overall score, so they're kept out of the meat stats above.
Kids-Q — Kids Q
20 entries · top 179.4400 · median 171.6914
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double Trouble | |
| 2 | Rex BBQ | |
| 3 | Hillside BBQ Jr. | |
| 4 | Liam BBQ | |
| 5 | Boricua BBQ | |
| 6 | Ninja BBQ | |
| 7 | Silver City BBQ Boys | |
| 8 | Carter BBQ | |
| 9 | Burger Queen | |
| 10 | Payton BBQ | |
| 11 | Izabells Backyard BBQ | |
| 12 | Crusher BBQ | |
| 13 | Emily and Sisters BBQ | |
| 14 | Elizabeth BBQ | |
| 15 | Lil;y Beans Q | |
| 16 | Starla Sinister Smoke | |
| 17 | Andrew BBQ | |
| 18 | Jack 19 | |
| 19 | Lil Muffin BBQ | |
| 20 | Chloe BBQ |