A new contest record
697.0856
highest overall ever cooked here
697.0856 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 694.2856 DR. NORDY'S BBQ set in 2013.
- old record 694.2856
- set 2013 by DR. NORDY'S BBQ
When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In 2014
Aug 22–23, 2014 · McPherson, KS
SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ won Grand Champion at the When Pigs Fly BBQ Contest & Fly In on August 22, 2014 in McPherson, KS, scoring 697.0856 in a field of 36 teams. DR. NORDY'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 693.0628. Category winners: Chicken — BUFFALO'S BBQ (179.4400); Pork Ribs — MANNY'S BBQ (179.4400); Pork — SMOKERS WILD (178.8572); Brisket — 4 LEGS UP BBQ (177.7028). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by DR. NORDY'S BBQ.
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.
499.93
median 666.50
697.09 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 179.44
- Pork Ribs 179.44
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 177.70
20
179.44
Entries
36
4 judged meats
Top score
697.0856
Winning margin
4.0228
GC over RC
Field average
658.77
499.93697.09
median 666.50 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Brisket
2.8572 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
681.1316
499.93697.09
10th place overall
Field spread
197.1540
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 46%
beats 54% of 4723 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
57%
17 of 30 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.74 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,557
avg power rating going in · stronger than 44% of contests
Storylines (5 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
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 7th
- Pork 11th
- Brisket 8th
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 13 calls decided inside half a point
Pork places 3–4: BUTCHER BBQ and LUCKY D'S BBQ tied on 176.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ and LAZY BACON BBQ tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 6–7: SOPHISTICATED REDNECKS edged WICHITA SWINEMEN by 0.0116.
- Pork 3–4 · tie
- Brisket 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 6–7 · 0.0116
- Pork Ribs 3–4 · 0.0116
A contest record in pork ribs
179.4400
best pork ribs ever cooked here
MANNY'S BBQ turned in 179.4400 in pork ribs — past the 176.0000 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 176.0000
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: DR. NORDY'S BBQ (won 2013).
- DR. NORDY'S BBQ · 2013
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 23, 2013 | McPherson, KS | McPherson, KS | 30 | 694.2856 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | BUTCHER BBQ |
| Aug 22, 2014 ← this one | McPherson, KS | McPherson, KS 67460 | 36 | 697.0856 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | DR. NORDY'S BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 179.4400 | 175.4172 | 171.4172 |
| Pork Ribs | 179.4400 | 174.8572 | 171.4516 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 174.2628 | 171.9772 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 174.8456 | 170.8228 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
36 entries · top 697.0856 · median 666.4970
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 2 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 4 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | MANNY'S BBQ | |
| 7 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 8 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 10 | WICHITA SWINEMEN | |
| 11 | RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS | |
| 12 | LUCKY D'S BBQ | |
| 13 | ROUGHNECKS BBQ | |
| 14 | SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS | |
| 15 | JP CUSTOM SMOKE | |
| 16 | Mac's BBQ | |
| 17 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 18 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 19 | FIREBREATHERS BARBECUE | |
| 20 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 21 | GREAT PLAINS BBQ | |
| 22 | Jay Willies Whiskey Pit BBQ | |
| 23 | SOPHISTICATED REDNECKS | |
| 24 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 25 | Boots Style BBQ | |
| 26 | PEARL SNAPS BBQ | |
| 27 | CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER | |
| 28 | LAZY 2 BBQ | |
| 29 | Stretch's BBQ | |
| 30 | 3 B'S BBQ | |
| 31 | Jackwagon BBQ | |
| 32 | SMOKE 'N' RUB | |
| 33 | TJ'S SMOKESHOW | |
| 34 | SMOKING AND THE BANDITS | |
| 35 | SUTHERN COMFORT - KS | |
| 36 | FIRE & SMOKE |
Chicken
36 entries · top 179.4400 · median 165.6858
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 2 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 3 | MANNY'S BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 5 | SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS | |
| 6 | SOPHISTICATED REDNECKS | |
| 7 | WICHITA SWINEMEN | |
| 8 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 9 | Mac's BBQ | |
| 10 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 11 | ROUGHNECKS BBQ | |
| 12 | JP CUSTOM SMOKE | |
| 13 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 14 | GREAT PLAINS BBQ | |
| 15 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 16 | FIREBREATHERS BARBECUE | |
| 17 | Boots Style BBQ | |
| 18 | RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS | |
| 19 | LUCKY D'S BBQ | |
| 20 | Jay Willies Whiskey Pit BBQ | |
| 21 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 22 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 23 | Jackwagon BBQ | |
| 24 | Stretch's BBQ | |
| 25 | LAZY 2 BBQ | |
| 26 | SUTHERN COMFORT - KS | |
| 27 | 3 B'S BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKING AND THE BANDITS | |
| 29 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 30 | CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER | |
| 31 | TJ'S SMOKESHOW | |
| 32 | PEARL SNAPS BBQ | |
| 33 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 34 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKE 'N' RUB | |
| 36 | FIRE & SMOKE |
Pork Ribs
36 entries · top 179.4400 · median 167.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MANNY'S BBQ | |
| 2 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | Boots Style BBQ | |
| 4 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 5 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 6 | RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS | |
| 7 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 9 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 10 | WICHITA SWINEMEN | |
| 11 | FIREBREATHERS BARBECUE | |
| 12 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 13 | SOPHISTICATED REDNECKS | |
| 14 | LUCKY D'S BBQ | |
| 15 | CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER | |
| 16 | Jay Willies Whiskey Pit BBQ | |
| 17 | LAZY 2 BBQ | |
| 18 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 19 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 20 | ROUGHNECKS BBQ | |
| 21 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 23 | PEARL SNAPS BBQ | |
| 24 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 25 | JP CUSTOM SMOKE | |
| 26 | Jackwagon BBQ | |
| 27 | Mac's BBQ | |
| 28 | GREAT PLAINS BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKE 'N' RUB | |
| 30 | SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS | |
| 31 | Stretch's BBQ | |
| 32 | FIRE & SMOKE | |
| 33 | SMOKING AND THE BANDITS | |
| 34 | 3 B'S BBQ | |
| 35 | TJ'S SMOKESHOW | |
| 36 | SUTHERN COMFORT - KS |
Pork
36 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.1258
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 2 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 3 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 4 | LUCKY D'S BBQ | |
| 5 | MANNY'S BBQ | |
| 6 | JP CUSTOM SMOKE | |
| 7 | RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS | |
| 8 | SMOKE 'N' RUB | |
| 9 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 10 | SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS | |
| 11 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 12 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 13 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 14 | ROUGHNECKS BBQ | |
| 15 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 16 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 17 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 18 | WICHITA SWINEMEN | |
| 19 | Mac's BBQ | |
| 20 | GREAT PLAINS BBQ | |
| 21 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 22 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 23 | PEARL SNAPS BBQ | |
| 24 | Stretch's BBQ | |
| 25 | LAZY 2 BBQ | |
| 26 | FIRE & SMOKE | |
| 27 | FIREBREATHERS BARBECUE | |
| 28 | Jay Willies Whiskey Pit BBQ | |
| 29 | CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER | |
| 30 | Boots Style BBQ | |
| 31 | SOPHISTICATED REDNECKS | |
| 32 | 3 B'S BBQ | |
| 33 | TJ'S SMOKESHOW | |
| 34 | SMOKING AND THE BANDITS | |
| 35 | Jackwagon BBQ | |
| 36 | SUTHERN COMFORT - KS |
Brisket
36 entries · top 177.7028 · median 166.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 3 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 4 | LAZY BACON BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN ELVISES | |
| 6 | BUTCHER BBQ | |
| 7 | DR. NORDY'S BBQ | |
| 8 | SIZZLIN' BONES BBQ | |
| 9 | 3 B'S BBQ | |
| 10 | SMOKE N HOGS BBQ KS | |
| 11 | INDIAN TERRITORY SMOKE | |
| 12 | LUCKY D'S BBQ | |
| 13 | ROUGHNECKS BBQ | |
| 14 | PEARL SNAPS BBQ | |
| 15 | Mac's BBQ | |
| 16 | WICHITA SWINEMEN | |
| 17 | JP CUSTOM SMOKE | |
| 18 | RUBBING BUTTS BBQ KS | |
| 19 | GREAT PLAINS BBQ | |
| 20 | FIREBREATHERS BARBECUE | |
| 21 | Jay Willies Whiskey Pit BBQ | |
| 22 | FIRE & SMOKE | |
| 23 | SMOKERS WILD | |
| 24 | Stretch's BBQ | |
| 25 | TJ'S SMOKESHOW | |
| 26 | CHIP ON OUR SHOULDER | |
| 27 | LONGBONE BBQ | |
| 28 | Jackwagon BBQ | |
| 29 | SOPHISTICATED REDNECKS | |
| 30 | MANNY'S BBQ | |
| 31 | SUTHERN COMFORT - KS | |
| 32 | LAZY 2 BBQ | |
| 33 | BUFFALO'S BBQ | |
| 34 | Boots Style BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKING AND THE BANDITS | |
| 36 | SMOKE 'N' RUB |