A new contest record
691.4972
highest overall ever cooked here
691.4972 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 686.2852 POLITICAL PORK set in 2013.
- old record 686.2852
- set 2013 by POLITICAL PORK
Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest 2014
May 2–3, 2014 · St. Joseph, MO
PIGSKIN BBQ won Grand Champion at the Apple Blossom Barbecue Contest on May 2, 2014 in St. Joseph, MO, scoring 691.4972 in a field of 33 teams. R BUTTS R SMOKIN took Reserve Grand Champion with 682.2056. Category winners: Chicken — R BUTTS R SMOKIN (175.4172); Pork Ribs — PIGSKIN BBQ (176.0344); Pork — BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ (174.9144); Brisket — PORK PATROL BBQ (177.7028). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by POLITICAL PORK.
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.
551.83
median 634.66
691.50 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 175.42
- Pork Ribs 176.03
- Pork 174.91
- Brisket 177.70
129.66
177.70
Entries
33
4 judged meats
Top score
691.4972
Winning margin
9.2916
GC over RC
Field average
634.12
551.83691.50
median 634.66 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
2.9144 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
659.3372
551.83691.50
10th place overall
Field spread
139.6688
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 66%
beats 34% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
31%
12 of 39 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.81 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,551
avg power rating going in · stronger than 38% of contests
Storylines (6 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.
A statement win
9.2916
points clear of the field
Wider than 86% of the 4,714 championships in the data
The champion won by 9.2916 points — a wider margin than 86% of championships in the data.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 10 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 5–6: KC SMOKE DAWGS and R BUTTS R SMOKIN tied on 167.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork Ribs places 6–7: R BUTTS R SMOKIN and 4 LEGS UP BBQ tied on 167.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: A & S Up In Smoke and R BUTTS R SMOKIN tied on 172.0000 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 5–6 · tie
- Pork Ribs 6–7 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Brisket 9–10 · tie
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
PIGSKIN BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 1 outright win — their weakest board was brisket at 5th.
- Chicken 2nd
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 5th
A contest record in brisket
177.7028
best brisket ever cooked here
PORK PATROL BBQ turned in 177.7028 in brisket — past the 174.2856 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 174.2856
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: POLITICAL PORK (won 2013).
- POLITICAL PORK · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2013 | St. Joseph, MO | St. Joseph, MO | 39 | 686.2852 | POLITICAL PORK | VALLEY OAKS STEAK COMPANY |
| May 2, 2014 ← this one | St. Joseph, MO | St. Joseph, MO 64501 | 33 | 691.4972 | PIGSKIN BBQ | R BUTTS R SMOKIN |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 175.4172 | 169.1200 | 166.8228 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.0344 | 167.4172 | 165.7028 |
| Pork | 174.9144 | 172 | 166.3200 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 169.7600 | 165.1200 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
33 entries · top 691.4972 · median 634.6628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 3 | PORK PATROL BBQ | |
| 4 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 5 | 50 SHADES OF QUE | |
| 6 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 7 | S&S BBQ | |
| 8 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 9 | PIG CITY BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG O'S BBQ | |
| 11 | WORTH SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 12 | TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q | |
| 13 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 14 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 15 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 16 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 17 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | |
| 18 | MAGUIRE UNIVERSITY CULINARY INSTITUTE | |
| 19 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 20 | Wabash | |
| 21 | FOWL BALLZ | |
| 22 | Rub Won Out BBQ | |
| 23 | Dr. D's BBQ Crew | |
| 24 | A & S Up In Smoke | |
| 25 | 2 Hot 2 Handle B-B-Q | |
| 26 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 27 | Get Outta My Pit | |
| 28 | SWEETFIRE QUE | |
| 29 | Sunshine | |
| 30 | Grilling Buddies | |
| 31 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 32 | Norty's | |
| 33 | MANN CAVE SMOKERS |
Chicken
33 entries · top 175.4172 · median 161.6800
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 2 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 3 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 4 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 5 | PIG CITY BBQ | |
| 6 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 7 | WORTH SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 8 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 9 | S&S BBQ | |
| 10 | PORK PATROL BBQ | |
| 11 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 12 | 50 SHADES OF QUE | |
| 13 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | |
| 14 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 15 | SWEETFIRE QUE | |
| 16 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 17 | TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q | |
| 18 | BIG O'S BBQ | |
| 19 | MAGUIRE UNIVERSITY CULINARY INSTITUTE | |
| 20 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 21 | A & S Up In Smoke | |
| 22 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 23 | Dr. D's BBQ Crew | |
| 24 | Rub Won Out BBQ | |
| 25 | Wabash | |
| 26 | Sunshine | |
| 27 | Get Outta My Pit | |
| 28 | 2 Hot 2 Handle B-B-Q | |
| 29 | MANN CAVE SMOKERS | |
| 30 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 31 | Grilling Buddies | |
| 32 | FOWL BALLZ | |
| 33 | Norty's |
Pork Ribs
33 entries · top 176.0344 · median 161.7372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 2 | 50 SHADES OF QUE | |
| 3 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 4 | WORTH SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 5 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 6 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 7 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 8 | PORK PATROL BBQ | |
| 9 | MAGUIRE UNIVERSITY CULINARY INSTITUTE | |
| 10 | TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q | |
| 11 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 12 | PIG CITY BBQ | |
| 13 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 14 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 15 | BIG O'S BBQ | |
| 16 | S&S BBQ | |
| 17 | Wabash | |
| 18 | FOWL BALLZ | |
| 19 | Rub Won Out BBQ | |
| 20 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 21 | Get Outta My Pit | |
| 22 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | |
| 23 | SWEETFIRE QUE | |
| 24 | 2 Hot 2 Handle B-B-Q | |
| 25 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 26 | Dr. D's BBQ Crew | |
| 27 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 28 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 29 | Grilling Buddies | |
| 30 | A & S Up In Smoke | |
| 31 | Sunshine | |
| 32 | Norty's | |
| 33 | MANN CAVE SMOKERS |
Pork
33 entries · top 174.9144 · median 164
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 2 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 3 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 4 | A & S Up In Smoke | |
| 5 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 6 | PORK PATROL BBQ | |
| 7 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 8 | 50 SHADES OF QUE | |
| 9 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 10 | PIG CITY BBQ | |
| 11 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 12 | S&S BBQ | |
| 13 | TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q | |
| 14 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 15 | WORTH SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 16 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 17 | BIG O'S BBQ | |
| 18 | 2 Hot 2 Handle B-B-Q | |
| 19 | Rub Won Out BBQ | |
| 20 | Get Outta My Pit | |
| 21 | FOWL BALLZ | |
| 22 | Wabash | |
| 23 | Dr. D's BBQ Crew | |
| 24 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 25 | SWEETFIRE QUE | |
| 26 | MAGUIRE UNIVERSITY CULINARY INSTITUTE | |
| 27 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | |
| 28 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 29 | Norty's | |
| 30 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 31 | MANN CAVE SMOKERS | |
| 32 | Grilling Buddies | |
| 33 | Sunshine |
Brisket
33 entries · top 177.7028 · median 159.3832
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PORK PATROL BBQ | |
| 2 | GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA | |
| 3 | BIG O'S BBQ | |
| 4 | S&S BBQ | |
| 5 | PIGSKIN BBQ | |
| 6 | 50 SHADES OF QUE | |
| 7 | R BUTTS R SMOKIN | |
| 8 | KC SMOKE DAWGS | |
| 9 | TATTOO BOB'S BAR-B-Q | |
| 10 | BUCKY'S BADASS BBQ | |
| 11 | POLITICAL PORK | |
| 12 | FOWL BALLZ | |
| 13 | SWEET BEAVER BBQ | |
| 14 | JAESTAR BBQ | |
| 15 | PIG CITY BBQ | |
| 16 | THESLABS.COM | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | WORTH SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 19 | MAGUIRE UNIVERSITY CULINARY INSTITUTE | |
| 20 | Weirich Custom BBQ | |
| 21 | YELLOW DOG BBQ AND SAUCE COMPANY | |
| 22 | Wabash | |
| 23 | Dr. D's BBQ Crew | |
| 24 | 2 Hot 2 Handle B-B-Q | |
| 25 | Rub Won Out BBQ | |
| 26 | Grilling Buddies | |
| 27 | Norty's | |
| 28 | Get Outta My Pit | |
| 29 | Sunshine | |
| 30 | A & S Up In Smoke | |
| 31 | SWEETFIRE QUE | |
| 32 | Grandpa Smokeys | |
| 33 | MANN CAVE SMOKERS |