A razor-thin finish
1.1312
points between champion and reserve
Closer than 82% of the 4,710 championships in the data
The Grand Championship was decided by 1.1312 points — closer than 82% of every championship in the data.
- SmellaQue
- Q Cartel
Barbeque on the Bow Festival 2025
Aug 30 – Sep 1, 2025 · Calgary, AB · CANADA · 📍 5151 101 Street NW
Reps: Brenda Black, Ken Black
SMELLAQUE won Grand Champion at the Barbeque on the Bow Festival on August 30, 2025 in Calgary, AB at 5151 101 Street NW, scoring 697.6684 in a field of 38 teams. Q Cartel took Reserve Grand Champion with 696.5372. Category winners: Chicken — No Measurements BBQ (176.5600); Pork Ribs — BBQ TEAM NAIT (175.4172); Pork — No Measurements BBQ (176.0000); Brisket — Q Cartel (177.7028). The Backyard Series standings were won by Northern Lights Barbecue Company with 335.4172. This is the 3rd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2024 edition was won by Colorado Bulldawg BBQ; the next was held in 2026.
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.
506.80
median 667.30
697.67 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Master Series — Chicken 176.56
- Master Series — Pork Ribs 175.42
- Master Series — Pork 176
- Master Series — Brisket 177.70
- Backyard Series — Chicken 171.98
- Backyard Series — Pork Ribs 166.88
144.51
177.70
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2023 to 2026 — this edition picked out.
Entries
38
6 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
697.6684
Winning margin
1.1312
GC over RC
Field average
660.32
506.80697.67
median 667.30 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
2.2856 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
679.9084
506.80697.67
10th place overall
Field spread
190.8684
winner to last place
Double threats
8
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 43%
beats 57% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
66%
23 of 35 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Moderate
ρ = -0.44 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,527
avg power rating going in · stronger than 19% of contests
Storylines (4 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.
Won without a category win
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMELLAQUE won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 4 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 6th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 4th
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 16 calls decided inside half a point
Master Series — Chicken places 1–2: No Measurements BBQ and Q Cartel tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 5–6: BBQ TEAM NAIT and SMELLAQUE tied on 173.7028 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Master Series — Chicken places 7–8: MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB and Just Katie tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Master Series — Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 5–6 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Master Series — Chicken 9–10 · tie
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
No Measurements BBQ won Chicken, Pork — a double.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2023 | Calgary, AB | 5151 101 St. NW | 40 | 702.2972 | Meat Sweats BBQ | Brisket Butts |
| Aug 31, 2024 | Calgary, AB | 5151 101 St. NW | 35 | 699.4172 | Colorado Bulldawg BBQ | SMELLAQUE |
| Aug 30, 2025 ← this one | Calgary, AB | 5151 101 Street NW | 38 | 697.6684 | SmellaQue | Q Cartel |
| Sep 4, 2026 | Calgary, AB | 5151 101 Street NW | 33 | 707.4172 | Prairie Smoke & Spice BBQ | BIGG SMOAK BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Series — Chicken | 176.5600 | 173.7028 | 171.9656 |
| Master Series — Pork Ribs | 175.4172 | 173.1316 | 171.4056 |
| Master Series — Pork | 176 | 173.1428 | 171.9656 |
| Master Series — Brisket | 177.7028 | 173.1200 | 168.5828 |
| Backyard Series — Chicken | 171.9772 | 163.9772 | — |
| Backyard Series — Pork Ribs | 166.8800 | 160.5716 | — |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
38 entries · top 697.6684 · median 667.3026
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 2 | Q Cartel | |
| 3 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 4 | Just Katie | |
| 5 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 6 | BBQ TEAM NAIT | |
| 7 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 8 | Panther BBQ | |
| 9 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 10 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 11 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 12 | Hunny & Hooch BBQ | |
| 13 | McQue It | |
| 14 | ROKER Q | |
| 15 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 16 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 17 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 18 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 20 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 21 | Hogparts School of Smokecraft and Brew'ery | |
| 22 | Tommy Boy Grillin | |
| 23 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 24 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 25 | Rollin Smoke Barbecue 2023 | |
| 26 | Prohibition BBQ | |
| 27 | Just Smoke It! BBQ | |
| 28 | MOTLEY QUE | |
| 29 | Fire BBQ | |
| 30 | 10 or Bust | |
| 31 | The Big LebowsQ | |
| 32 | Murfy's BBQ Co. | |
| 33 | Smoke Trails BBQ | |
| 34 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 35 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 36 | 4KFarms-Greengate | |
| 37 | Chop it like its hot | |
| 38 | Syndicate BBQ |
Chicken
38 entries · top 176.5600 · median 168.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 2 | Q Cartel | |
| 3 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 4 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 5 | BBQ TEAM NAIT | |
| 6 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 7 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 8 | Just Katie | |
| 9 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 10 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 11 | Hunny & Hooch BBQ | |
| 12 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 13 | Syndicate BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 15 | McQue It | |
| 16 | ROKER Q | |
| 17 | Murfy's BBQ Co. | |
| 18 | Just Smoke It! BBQ | |
| 19 | Panther BBQ | |
| 20 | Rollin Smoke Barbecue 2023 | |
| 21 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 22 | MOTLEY QUE | |
| 23 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 24 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 25 | Smoke Trails BBQ | |
| 26 | 10 or Bust | |
| 27 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 28 | Hogparts School of Smokecraft and Brew'ery | |
| 29 | The Big LebowsQ | |
| 30 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 31 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 32 | Fire BBQ | |
| 33 | Prohibition BBQ | |
| 34 | Tommy Boy Grillin | |
| 35 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 36 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 37 | 4KFarms-Greengate | |
| 38 | Chop it like its hot |
Pork Ribs
38 entries · top 175.4172 · median 167.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BBQ TEAM NAIT | |
| 2 | Syndicate BBQ | |
| 3 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 4 | Panther BBQ | |
| 5 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 6 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 7 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 8 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 9 | Prohibition BBQ | |
| 10 | Just Katie | |
| 11 | McQue It | |
| 12 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 13 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 14 | ROKER Q | |
| 15 | Q Cartel | |
| 16 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 17 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 19 | Fire BBQ | |
| 20 | Murfy's BBQ Co. | |
| 21 | Hunny & Hooch BBQ | |
| 22 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 23 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 24 | Rollin Smoke Barbecue 2023 | |
| 25 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 26 | 10 or Bust | |
| 27 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 28 | MOTLEY QUE | |
| 29 | Tommy Boy Grillin | |
| 30 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 31 | Just Smoke It! BBQ | |
| 32 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 33 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 34 | Smoke Trails BBQ | |
| 35 | Hogparts School of Smokecraft and Brew'ery | |
| 36 | The Big LebowsQ | |
| 37 | Chop it like its hot | |
| 38 | 4KFarms-Greengate |
Pork
37 entries · top 176 · median 168.5600
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 2 | McQue It | |
| 3 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 4 | Q Cartel | |
| 5 | Hunny & Hooch BBQ | |
| 6 | Tommy Boy Grillin | |
| 7 | Hogparts School of Smokecraft and Brew'ery | |
| 8 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 9 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 10 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 11 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 12 | Just Katie | |
| 13 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 14 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 15 | Rollin Smoke Barbecue 2023 | |
| 16 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 17 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 18 | ROKER Q | |
| 19 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 20 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 21 | Just Smoke It! BBQ | |
| 22 | 4KFarms-Greengate | |
| 23 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 24 | BBQ TEAM NAIT | |
| 25 | MOTLEY QUE | |
| 26 | Fire BBQ | |
| 27 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 28 | The Big LebowsQ | |
| 29 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 30 | Panther BBQ | |
| 31 | Prohibition BBQ | |
| 32 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 33 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team | |
| 34 | Murfy's BBQ Co. | |
| 35 | 10 or Bust | |
| 36 | Chop it like its hot | |
| 37 | Smoke Trails BBQ |
Brisket
38 entries · top 177.7028 · median 163.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q Cartel | |
| 2 | Panther BBQ | |
| 3 | Phantom Smoke & BBQ | |
| 4 | SMELLAQUE | |
| 5 | Fergolicious BBQ | |
| 6 | Kreiser Barbecue | |
| 7 | Just Katie | |
| 8 | Hogparts School of Smokecraft and Brew'ery | |
| 9 | YOU NEED A BBQ | |
| 10 | Homestead Smoke Shack | |
| 11 | KillerbunnyBBQ | |
| 12 | Smoke Trails BBQ | |
| 13 | BBQ TEAM NAIT | |
| 14 | Bad to the Brisket | |
| 15 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | |
| 16 | Tommy Boy Grillin | |
| 17 | EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | |
| 18 | ROKER Q | |
| 19 | No Measurements BBQ | |
| 20 | Hunny & Hooch BBQ | |
| 21 | MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB | |
| 22 | 4KFarms-Greengate | |
| 23 | Prohibition BBQ | |
| 24 | Syndicate BBQ | |
| 25 | Slam Dunk BBQ | |
| 26 | SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | |
| 27 | Chop it like its hot | |
| 28 | Just Smoke It! BBQ | |
| 29 | The Big LebowsQ | |
| 30 | McQue It | |
| 31 | 10 or Bust | |
| 32 | Rollin Smoke Barbecue 2023 | |
| 33 | Fire BBQ | |
| 34 | Bottle Hill BBQ | |
| 35 | MOTLEY QUE | |
| 36 | Mark's Meats and Treats | |
| 37 | Murfy's BBQ Co. | |
| 38 | Rack Addicts BBQ Team |
Backyard Series
Overall
9 entries · top 335.4172 · median 328.5828
Chicken
9 entries · top 171.9772 · median 163.9772
Pork Ribs
9 entries · top 166.8800 · median 160.5716
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 — Hamburgers
7 entries · top 175.4172 · median 172.5484
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glitter and Grill | |
| 2 | The Dino Grill | |
| 3 | Hot Dogs | |
| 4 | Fire Bandit | |
| 5 | Taco's BBQ | |
| 6 | Little Meat Sweats | |
| 7 | Pew Pew BBQ |