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
Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown 2015
May 29–30, 2015 · Canon City, CO
CLARK CREW BBQ won Grand Champion at the Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown on May 29, 2015 in Canon City, CO, scoring 694.8228 in a field of 32 teams. JO-BAWB'S BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 691.3716. Category winners: Chicken — JO-BAWB'S BBQ (173.1200); Pork Ribs — CLARK CREW BBQ (174.2972); Pork — CLARK CREW BBQ (178.8572); Brisket — 4 LEGS UP BBQ (177.1428). This is the 3rd of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2014 edition was won by SMOKIN TRIGGERS; the next was held in 2016.
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.
466.78
median 645.05
694.82 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 173.12
- Pork Ribs 174.30
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 177.14
115.93
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2016 — this edition picked out.
Entries
32
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
694.8228
Winning margin
3.4512
GC over RC
Field average
637.99
466.78694.82
median 645.05 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Chicken
2.2628 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
661.6912
466.78694.82
10th place overall
Field spread
228.0460
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 55%
beats 45% of 4714 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
50%
17 of 34 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.92 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,573
avg power rating going in · stronger than 57% 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.
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 4 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 3–4: SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ and BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES tied on 171.4172 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 2–3: ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ edged SMOKIN TRIGGERS by 0.0116. Chicken places 7–8: 4 LEGS UP BBQ edged SMOKEAHOLICS by 0.0232.
- Pork Ribs 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 2–3 · 0.0116
- Chicken 7–8 · 0.0232
- Brisket 3–4 · 0.0344
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
CLARK CREW BBQ won Pork Ribs, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
CLARK CREW BBQ took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was brisket at 5th.
- Chicken 4th
- Pork Ribs 1st
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 5th
A contest record in brisket
177.1428
best brisket ever cooked here
4 LEGS UP BBQ turned in 177.1428 in brisket — past the 175.4172 that had stood across 2 earlier editions.
- old best 175.4172
- across 2 past editions
Back to defend
1
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: SMOKIN TRIGGERS (won 2013, 2014).
- SMOKIN TRIGGERS · 2013, 2014
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 | Canon City, CO | Canon City, CO 81212 | 34 | 704.5944 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ |
| May 29, 2015 ← this one | 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 | 173.1200 | 170.8572 | 168.5600 |
| Pork Ribs | 174.2972 | 170.8572 | 165.6800 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 174.2972 | 165.1084 |
| Brisket | 177.1428 | 170.2628 | 162.2628 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
32 entries · top 694.8228 · median 645.0458
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 3 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 5 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 6 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 7 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 8 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 9 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 10 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 11 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 12 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 13 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 14 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 15 | SCORCH AND RESQUE | |
| 16 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 17 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 18 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 19 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 20 | FATZ BBQ | |
| 21 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 22 | BURNIN BUTTS BBQ | |
| 23 | Fat Frankies BBQ | |
| 24 | SMOKE N PARADISE | |
| 25 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 26 | ONE BAD PIG BBQ | |
| 27 | LOS NERDS | |
| 28 | DAD'S BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 30 | SMOKIN SAGE GRILL | |
| 31 | Montana Bar BQ | |
| 32 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ |
Chicken
32 entries · top 173.1200 · median 166.2630
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 2 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 4 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 5 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 6 | LOS NERDS | |
| 7 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 9 | SCORCH AND RESQUE | |
| 10 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 11 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 12 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 13 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 14 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 15 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 16 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 17 | BURNIN BUTTS BBQ | |
| 18 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 19 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 20 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 21 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 22 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 23 | ONE BAD PIG BBQ | |
| 24 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 25 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 26 | SMOKE N PARADISE | |
| 27 | FATZ BBQ | |
| 28 | DAD'S BARBEQUE | |
| 29 | Fat Frankies BBQ | |
| 30 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 31 | Montana Bar BQ | |
| 32 | SMOKIN SAGE GRILL |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 174.2972 · median 163.3944
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 3 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 4 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 5 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 6 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 7 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 8 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 10 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 11 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 13 | ONE BAD PIG BBQ | |
| 14 | BURNIN BUTTS BBQ | |
| 15 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 16 | SCORCH AND RESQUE | |
| 17 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 18 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 19 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 20 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 21 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 22 | FATZ BBQ | |
| 23 | DAD'S BARBEQUE | |
| 24 | SMOKE N PARADISE | |
| 25 | Fat Frankies BBQ | |
| 26 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 27 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 28 | LOS NERDS | |
| 29 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 30 | SMOKIN SAGE GRILL | |
| 31 | Montana Bar BQ |
Pork
32 entries · top 178.8572 · median 161.6972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 2 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 4 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 5 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 6 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 7 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 8 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 9 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 10 | FATZ BBQ | |
| 11 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 12 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 13 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 14 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 15 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 16 | Fat Frankies BBQ | |
| 17 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 18 | SMOKE N PARADISE | |
| 19 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 20 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 21 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 22 | ONE BAD PIG BBQ | |
| 23 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 24 | DAD'S BARBEQUE | |
| 25 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 26 | SMOKIN SAGE GRILL | |
| 27 | SCORCH AND RESQUE | |
| 28 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 29 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 30 | Montana Bar BQ | |
| 31 | BURNIN BUTTS BBQ | |
| 32 | LOS NERDS |
Brisket
32 entries · top 177.1428 · median 158.2398
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 LEGS UP BBQ | |
| 2 | WILD HOGS BBQ | |
| 3 | THREE HOG NIGHT SMOKERS | |
| 4 | THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | |
| 5 | CLARK CREW BBQ | |
| 6 | JO-BAWB'S BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKEAHOLICS | |
| 8 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKIN TRIGGERS | |
| 10 | SCORCH AND RESQUE | |
| 11 | Speed of Heat BBQ | |
| 12 | BURNIN BOBS BUTTS N BONES | |
| 13 | FLYBOY BBQ | |
| 14 | WOODY'S Q SHACK | |
| 15 | Fat Frankies BBQ | |
| 16 | ROCKET BOYS PYRO BBQ | |
| 17 | WEBBER'S OLD WEST BBQ | |
| 18 | BURNIN BUTTS BBQ | |
| 19 | FATZ BBQ | |
| 20 | CRAZY COYOTE | |
| 21 | COOTERS COUNTRY CATERING | |
| 22 | SMOKE N PARADISE | |
| 23 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ | |
| 24 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 25 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 26 | LOS NERDS | |
| 27 | SMOKIN SAGE GRILL | |
| 28 | LOST WEEKEND GRILL | |
| 29 | DAD'S BARBEQUE | |
| 30 | BACKDRAFT BBQ | |
| 31 | ONE BAD PIG BBQ | |
| 32 | Montana Bar BQ |
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 — Monestary Mystery
5 entries · top 173.1656 · median 165.1200
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SLOW GROOVIN BBQ | |
| 2 | DJS SMOKIN' BBQ | |
| 3 | SMOKIN SAGE GRILL | |
| 4 | BURNIN BUTTS BBQ | |
| 5 | BRACKEN RACKS BBQ |