A new contest record
685.6916
highest overall ever cooked here
685.6916 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 668.5944 DIZZY PIG set in 2014.
- old record 668.5944
- set 2014 by DIZZY PIG
Harpoon Championships of New England BBQ 2015
Jul 25–26, 2015 · Windsor, VT
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ won Grand Champion at the Harpoon Championships of New England BBQ on July 25, 2015 in Windsor, VT, scoring 685.6916 in a field of 35 teams. Rogue Hog BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 682.2628. Category winners: Chicken — THE 5TH ARTERY (176.5716); Pork Ribs — INSANE SWINE BBQ (174.3200); Pork — GREENWITCH QUE CO. (175.4056); Brisket — Rogue Hog BBQ (180.0000). This is the 2nd of 2 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by DIZZY PIG.
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.
597.15
median 656.49
685.69 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176.57
- Pork Ribs 174.32
- Pork 175.41
- Brisket 180 🔥
131.94
180
Entries
35
4 judged meats · 5 ancillary
Top score
685.6916
Winning margin
3.4288
GC over RC
Field average
652.53
597.15685.69
median 656.49 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Pork Ribs
3.4628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
669.0972
597.15685.69
10th place overall
Field spread
88.5376
winner to last place
Double threats
3
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 81%
beats 19% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
71%
24 of 34 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.76 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,573
avg power rating going in · stronger than 57% of contests
Storylines (7 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
BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 18th
- Pork 5th
- Brisket 3rd
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 8–9: GREENWITCH QUE CO. and THE PERFECT BUTT tied on 168.5600 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Pork places 4–5: I Smell Smoke!!! and BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ tied on 170.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 6–7: FAT MAXINE'S BBQ and THE 5TH ARTERY tied on 170.8572 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Pork Ribs 8–9 · tie
- Pork 4–5 · tie
- Brisket 6–7 · tie
- Pork Ribs 7–8 · 0.0116
A contest record in pork ribs
174.3200
best pork ribs ever cooked here
INSANE SWINE BBQ turned in 174.3200 in pork ribs — past the 168.5944 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 168.5944
- across 1 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: DIZZY PIG (won 2014).
- DIZZY PIG · 2014
A perfect score on the table
1
perfect 180s
1 perfect 180 was scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- Rogue Hog BBQ · Brisket
They keep coming back
71%
of last edition’s field returned
24 of 34 teams from 2014-07-25 came back
24 of the 34 teams that cooked the previous edition came back for this one — a contest people put on the calendar.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25, 2014 | Windsor, VT | Windsor, VT 05089 | 34 | 668.5944 | DIZZY PIG | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Jul 25, 2015 ← this one | Windsor, VT | Windsor, VT 05089 | 35 | 685.6916 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | Rogue Hog BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.5716 | 172.0344 | 169.2116 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.3200 | 170.8572 | 168.0116 |
| Pork | 175.4056 | 170.8572 | 168.5256 |
| Brisket | 180 | 171.4056 | 168.5600 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
35 entries · top 685.6916 · median 656.4916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 2 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 4 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 5 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 6 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 7 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 8 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 9 | CAN U SMELL MY PITS BBQ | |
| 10 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 11 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 12 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 13 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 14 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 15 | 4:20 Q | |
| 16 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 17 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 18 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 19 | IQUE | |
| 20 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 21 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 22 | A Mazie Q | |
| 23 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 24 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 25 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 26 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 27 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 28 | Udder Chaos | |
| 29 | I Smell Smoke!!! | |
| 30 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 31 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 32 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 33 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 34 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 35 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING |
Chicken
35 entries · top 176.5716 · median 166.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 2 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 3 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 4 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 5 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 6 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 7 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 8 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 9 | 4:20 Q | |
| 10 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 11 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 12 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 13 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 14 | IQUE | |
| 15 | A Mazie Q | |
| 16 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 17 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 18 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 19 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 21 | CAN U SMELL MY PITS BBQ | |
| 22 | Udder Chaos | |
| 23 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 24 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 25 | I Smell Smoke!!! | |
| 26 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 27 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 28 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 29 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 30 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 31 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 32 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 33 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 34 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 35 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY |
Pork Ribs
35 entries · top 174.3200 · median 164.5372
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 2 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 3 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 4 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 5 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 6 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 7 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 8 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 9 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 10 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 11 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 12 | I Smell Smoke!!! | |
| 13 | IQUE | |
| 14 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 15 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 16 | CAN U SMELL MY PITS BBQ | |
| 17 | A Mazie Q | |
| 18 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 19 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 20 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 21 | Udder Chaos | |
| 22 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 23 | 4:20 Q | |
| 24 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 25 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 26 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 27 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 28 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 29 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 30 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 31 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 32 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 33 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 34 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 35 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING |
Pork
35 entries · top 175.4056 · median 161.7144
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 2 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 3 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 4 | I Smell Smoke!!! | |
| 5 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 6 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 7 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 8 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 9 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 10 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 11 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 12 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 13 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 14 | CAN U SMELL MY PITS BBQ | |
| 15 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 16 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 17 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 18 | A Mazie Q | |
| 19 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 20 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 21 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 22 | 4:20 Q | |
| 23 | IQUE | |
| 24 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 25 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 26 | Udder Chaos | |
| 27 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 28 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 29 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 30 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 31 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 32 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 33 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 34 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 35 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ |
Brisket
35 entries · top 180 · median 163.9772 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 2 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 3 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 4 | CAN U SMELL MY PITS BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 6 | FAT MAXINE'S BBQ | |
| 7 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 8 | BEERBEQUE | |
| 9 | 4:20 Q | |
| 10 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 11 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 12 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 13 | STUBBORN BULL BBQ | |
| 14 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 15 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 16 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 17 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 18 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 19 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 20 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 21 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 23 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 24 | IQUE | |
| 25 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 26 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 27 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 28 | A Mazie Q | |
| 29 | QUE AND A HALF MEN | |
| 30 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 31 | Udder Chaos | |
| 32 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 33 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 34 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 35 | I Smell Smoke!!! |
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 — Chef'S Choice
26 entries · top 178.8572 · median 169.4114
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 2 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 3 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 4 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 5 | IQUE | |
| 6 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 7 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 9 | Udder Chaos | |
| 10 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 11 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 12 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 13 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 14 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 15 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 16 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 17 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 18 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 19 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 20 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 21 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 22 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 23 | A Mazie Q | |
| 24 | 4:20 Q | |
| 25 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 26 | BACON HOGS BBQ |
Master Series — Harpoon Summer Sizzler
27 entries · top 693.7372 · median 659.9200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | IQUE | |
| 2 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 3 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 4 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 5 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 7 | A Mazie Q | |
| 8 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 9 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 10 | Udder Chaos | |
| 11 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 12 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 13 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 14 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 15 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 16 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 17 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 18 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 19 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 20 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 21 | 4:20 Q | |
| 22 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 23 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 24 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 25 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 26 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 27 | HANDSOME DEVIL |
Master Series — Sausage
27 entries · top 179.4400 · median 161.1084
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 2 | IQUE | |
| 3 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 4 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 5 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 6 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 7 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 8 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 9 | Udder Chaos | |
| 10 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 11 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 12 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 13 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 14 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 15 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 16 | A Mazie Q | |
| 17 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 18 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 19 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 20 | 4:20 Q | |
| 21 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 22 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 23 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 24 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 25 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 26 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 27 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING |
Master Series — Shrimp
27 entries · top 180 · median 158.8344 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 2 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 3 | IQUE | |
| 4 | A Mazie Q | |
| 5 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 6 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 7 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 9 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 10 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 11 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 12 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 13 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 14 | Udder Chaos | |
| 15 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 16 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ | |
| 17 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 18 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 19 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 20 | 4:20 Q | |
| 21 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 22 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 23 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 24 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 25 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 26 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 27 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS |
Master Series — Wings
27 entries · top 178.2972 · median 164.6172
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Mazie Q | |
| 2 | SWEET BREATHE BBQ | |
| 3 | GREENWITCH QUE CO. | |
| 4 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | BUCKNER BROTHERS BBQ | |
| 6 | MEAT @ SLIMS | |
| 7 | Udder Chaos | |
| 8 | HANDSOME DEVIL | |
| 9 | 4:20 Q | |
| 10 | THE PERFECT BUTT | |
| 11 | THE 5TH ARTERY | |
| 12 | DIZZY PIG | |
| 13 | BLAZIN' BUTTZ BBQ | |
| 14 | ROAD HAWG BBQ, SWINE DINING | |
| 15 | BLACK CAT BBQ | |
| 16 | IQUE | |
| 17 | SQUEELS ON WHEELS | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BARRELS | |
| 19 | Bare Bones BBQ | |
| 20 | BIG BONED BBQ | |
| 21 | THE BASIC BBQ TEAM | |
| 22 | LOST NATION SMOKE COMPANY | |
| 23 | Q Haven BBQ | |
| 24 | SWEET CHICKEN | |
| 25 | BACON HOGS BBQ | |
| 26 | Vermont Maple BBQ | |
| 27 | HOG HEAVEN BBQ |