A new contest record
704.5944
highest overall ever cooked here
704.5944 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 677.1432 SMOKIN TRIGGERS set in 2013.
- old record 677.1432
- set 2013 by SMOKIN TRIGGERS
Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown 2014
May 30–31, 2014 · Canon City, CO
SMOKIN TRIGGERS won Grand Champion at the Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown on May 30, 2014 in Canon City, CO, scoring 704.5944 in a field of 34 teams. THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 699.4172. Category winners: Chicken — SMOKIN TRIGGERS (174.8572); Pork Ribs — SMOKIN TRIGGERS (177.1428); Pork — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (179.4400); Brisket — THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ (175.4172). This is the 2nd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2013 edition was won by SMOKIN TRIGGERS; the next was held in 2015.
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.
586.67
median 649.83
704.59 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 174.86
- Pork Ribs 177.14
- Pork 179.44
- Brisket 175.42
135.36
179.44
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2016 — this edition picked out.
Entries
34
4 judged meats · 4 ancillary
Top score
704.5944
Winning margin
5.1772
GC over RC
Field average
647.19
586.67704.59
median 649.83 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
1.7372 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
665.0284
586.67704.59
10th place overall
Field spread
117.9204
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 15%
beats 85% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
38%
12 of 32 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.78 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,549
avg power rating going in · stronger than 37% of contests
Storylines (9 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.
An upset on the books
31-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 69 times in 100
SMOKIN TRIGGERS came in rated below the field's top team, THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 31-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1627
- top seed 1763
Back-to-back
2 in a row
editions of this contest
SMOKIN TRIGGERS won here last time out too — 2 straight editions of this contest.
- 2013
- 2014
A dynasty in the making
2×
wins at this contest
2 of 4 tracked editions
SMOKIN TRIGGERS has won this contest 2 times across its 4 tracked editions.
- 2013
- 2014
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 9 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 1–2: SMOKIN TRIGGERS and BACKDRAFT BBQ tied on 174.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 7–8: BACKDRAFT BBQ edged WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY by 0.0004. Pork places 6–7: Speed of Heat BBQ edged BACKDRAFT BBQ by 0.0112.
- Chicken 1–2 · tie
- Pork 7–8 · 0.0004
- Pork 6–7 · 0.0112
- Pork 8–9 · 0.0112
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
SMOKIN TRIGGERS won Chicken, Pork Ribs — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
SMOKIN TRIGGERS took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 3rd.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 2nd
- Brisket 3rd
A contest record in pork
179.4400
best pork ever cooked here
THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ turned in 179.4400 in pork — past the 173.7144 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 173.7144
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SMOKIN TRIGGERS (won 2013).
- SMOKIN TRIGGERS · 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 31, 2013 | Canon City, CO | Canon City, CO | 33 | 677.1432 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES |
| May 30, 2014 ← this one | Canon City, CO | Canon City, CO 81212 | 34 | 704.5944 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ |
| May 29, 2015 | Canon City, CO | Canon City, CO 81212 | 32 | 694.8228 | CLARK CREW BBQ | JO-BAWB'S BBQ |
| Jun 3, 2016 | Canon City, CO | 4218 Fremont county Rd | 30 | 696.6172 | SHIG NINJA BBQ | 4 LEGS UP BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 174.8572 | 173.1200 | 170.8228 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.1428 | 172 | 167.9656 |
| Pork | 179.4400 | 169.6800 | 165.1084 |
| Brisket | 175.4172 | 170.8228 | 167.3944 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
34 entries · top 704.5944 · median 649.8344
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 2 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 3 | GQUE | |
| 4 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 5 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 6 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 7 | MIKE | |
| 8 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 9 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 10 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 11 | Prairie Dog Pit BBQ | |
| 12 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 13 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 14 | RIB-IT | |
| 15 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 16 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 17 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 18 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 19 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 20 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 21 | LIZZIE Q | |
| 22 | Papa Bear's Pit BBQ | |
| 23 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 24 | JDUBBSRUBB | |
| 25 | Crazy Heifer BBQ Team | |
| 26 | PLAN B BBQ | |
| 27 | Dad's Bar-B-Que | |
| 28 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 29 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 30 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 31 | BROKE ASS BAR-B-QUE CO. | |
| 32 | Thin, Tangy and Slightly Sweet | |
| 33 | Smokin Sage | |
| 34 | 303 BBQ |
Chicken
34 entries · top 174.8572 · median 164.8172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 2 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 3 | GQUE | |
| 4 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 5 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 6 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 7 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 8 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 9 | MIKE | |
| 10 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 11 | Prairie Dog Pit BBQ | |
| 12 | PLAN B BBQ | |
| 13 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 14 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 15 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 16 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 19 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 20 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 21 | Papa Bear's Pit BBQ | |
| 22 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 23 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 24 | Crazy Heifer BBQ Team | |
| 25 | RIB-IT | |
| 26 | Dad's Bar-B-Que | |
| 27 | Thin, Tangy and Slightly Sweet | |
| 28 | LIZZIE Q | |
| 29 | JDUBBSRUBB | |
| 30 | BROKE ASS BAR-B-QUE CO. | |
| 31 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 32 | 303 BBQ | |
| 33 | Smokin Sage | |
| 34 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ |
Pork Ribs
34 entries · top 177.1428 · median 164.8172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 2 | MIKE | |
| 3 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 4 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 5 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 6 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 7 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 8 | GQUE | |
| 9 | JDUBBSRUBB | |
| 10 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 11 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 12 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 13 | Prairie Dog Pit BBQ | |
| 14 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 15 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 16 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 17 | RIB-IT | |
| 18 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 19 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 20 | LIZZIE Q | |
| 21 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 22 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 23 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 24 | Thin, Tangy and Slightly Sweet | |
| 25 | Papa Bear's Pit BBQ | |
| 26 | Dad's Bar-B-Que | |
| 27 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 28 | 303 BBQ | |
| 29 | BROKE ASS BAR-B-QUE CO. | |
| 30 | Smokin Sage | |
| 31 | PLAN B BBQ | |
| 32 | Crazy Heifer BBQ Team | |
| 33 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 34 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL |
Pork
34 entries · top 179.4400 · median 163.0856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 3 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 4 | Crazy Heifer BBQ Team | |
| 5 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 6 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 7 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 8 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 9 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 10 | GQUE | |
| 11 | RIB-IT | |
| 12 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 13 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 14 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 15 | MIKE | |
| 16 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 17 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 18 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 19 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 20 | Dad's Bar-B-Que | |
| 21 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 22 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 23 | LIZZIE Q | |
| 24 | BROKE ASS BAR-B-QUE CO. | |
| 25 | Prairie Dog Pit BBQ | |
| 26 | PLAN B BBQ | |
| 27 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 28 | Papa Bear's Pit BBQ | |
| 29 | Smokin Sage | |
| 30 | JDUBBSRUBB | |
| 31 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 32 | Thin, Tangy and Slightly Sweet | |
| 33 | 303 BBQ | |
| 34 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ |
Brisket
34 entries · top 175.4172 · median 159.6628
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 2 | GQUE | |
| 3 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 4 | GRILLIN' BEAVERS | |
| 5 | Prairie Dog Pit BBQ | |
| 6 | RIB-IT | |
| 7 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 8 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 9 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 10 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 11 | WHISKEY PIT BBQ COMPANY | |
| 12 | MIKE | |
| 13 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 14 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 15 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 16 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 17 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 18 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 19 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 20 | LIZZIE Q | |
| 21 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 22 | Papa Bear's Pit BBQ | |
| 23 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 24 | JDUBBSRUBB | |
| 25 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 26 | Smokin Sage | |
| 27 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 28 | PLAN B BBQ | |
| 29 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 30 | Dad's Bar-B-Que | |
| 31 | BROKE ASS BAR-B-QUE CO. | |
| 32 | Crazy Heifer BBQ Team | |
| 33 | Thin, Tangy and Slightly Sweet | |
| 34 | 303 BBQ |
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.
Master Series — Dessert
2 entries · top 180 · median 173.4400 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 2 | Crazy Heifer BBQ Team |
Master Series — Monestary Mystery
7 entries · top 178.8572 · median 170.8228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 2 | RIB-IT | |
| 3 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 4 | Smokin Sage | |
| 5 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 6 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 7 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ |
Master Series — Salsa
7 entries · top 174.2628 · median 167.9656
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAMMERHEAD USA BBQ | |
| 2 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 3 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 4 | Smokin Sage | |
| 5 | Bracken Racks BBQ Ancillary | |
| 6 | Three Hog Night Smokers Ancillary | |
| 7 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS |
Master Series — Sauce
9 entries · top 176.5944 · median 171.4172