A new contest record
695.8968
highest overall ever cooked here
695.8968 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 678.2056 SON OF SMOKE set in 2016.
- old record 678.2056
- set 2016 by SON OF SMOKE
Wine Country Big Q Competition and Festival 2017
Jul 7–8, 2017 · Petaluma, CA · 📍 175 Fairgrounds Dr, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds
Sharpe's Woodshed won Grand Champion at the Wine Country Big Q Competition and Festival on July 7, 2017 in Petaluma, CA at 175 Fairgrounds Dr, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, scoring 695.8968 in a field of 50 teams. CYNICAL BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 690.8116. Category winners: Chicken — RAD FONDO BBQ (176.5600); Pork Ribs — The Smoking J's (178.2972); Pork — CYNICAL BBQ (180.0000); Brisket — Smokey and the Pirate (177.7028). This is the 2nd of 3 editions of this contest on record; the 2016 edition was won by SON OF SMOKE; the next was held in 2018.
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.
428.47
median 650.42
695.90 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 176.56
- Pork Ribs 178.30
- Pork 180 🔥
- Brisket 177.70
130.85
180
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2016 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
50
4 judged meats · 1 ancillary
Top score
695.8968
Winning margin
5.0852
GC over RC
Field average
638.70
428.47695.90
median 650.42 · last place to winner
Tightest race
Chicken
3.4400 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
675.9316
428.47695.90
10th place overall
Field spread
267.4284
winner to last place
Double threats
4
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 51%
beats 49% of 4715 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
50%
19 of 38 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.74 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,546
avg power rating going in · stronger than 34% 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.
An upset on the books
19-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 81 times in 100
Sharpe's Woodshed came in rated below the field's top team, BIG POPPA SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 19-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1688
- top seed 1935
Won without a category win
3 of 4
meats called to the stage
Sharpe's Woodshed won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 3rd. Consistency beat fireworks.
- Chicken 7th
- Pork Ribs 3rd
- Pork 3rd
- Brisket 11th
Photo finishes
Tie
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Chicken places 3–4: HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ and BIG POPPA SMOKERS tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 4–5: BIG POPPA SMOKERS and STARVIN MARVINS BAY AREA BBQ tied on 173.1200 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Chicken places 7–8: Sharpe's Woodshed and PORTERHOUSE BBQ tied on 171.9656 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker.
- Chicken 3–4 · tie
- Chicken 4–5 · tie
- Chicken 7–8 · tie
- Pork 1–2 · tie
A contest record in pork
180.0000
best pork ever cooked here
CYNICAL BBQ turned in 180.0000 in pork — past the 177.1428 that had stood across 1 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1428
- across 1 past editions
A perfect score on the table
2
perfect 180s
2 perfect 180s were scored at this contest — every judge at the table handing back a nine.
- CYNICAL BBQ · Pork
- BIG POPPA SMOKERS · Pork
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 8, 2016 | Petaluma, CA | 175 Fairgrounds Dr | 38 | 678.2056 | SON OF SMOKE | BIG POPPA SMOKERS |
| Jul 7, 2017 ← this one | Petaluma, CA | 175 Fairgrounds Dr, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds | 50 | 695.8968 | SHARPE GOURMET COOKING WOOD | CYNICAL BBQ |
| Jul 6, 2018 | Petaluma, CA | 175 Fairgrounds Dr, Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds | 38 | 701.1316 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | RIDGE ROUTE BOYS BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 176.5600 | 173.1200 | 170.8456 |
| Pork Ribs | 178.2972 | 173.7144 | 170.8344 |
| Pork | 180 | 174.2628 | 169.1200 |
| Brisket | 177.7028 | 171.4056 | 168.5256 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
50 entries · top 695.8968 · median 650.4228
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 2 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 3 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 4 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 5 | SMOKESHOW | |
| 6 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 7 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 8 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 9 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 10 | The Smoking J's | |
| 11 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 12 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 13 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 14 | FLAME THROWER BBQ CO. | |
| 15 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 16 | Saltworks | |
| 17 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 18 | STARVIN MARVINS BAY AREA BBQ | |
| 19 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 20 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 21 | RBQ | |
| 22 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 23 | Camacho's Southern Style BBQ | |
| 24 | JOHNNY BBQ | |
| 25 | MAC BBQ | |
| 26 | SIGNATURE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 27 | 2NQUE | |
| 28 | Eads Downhome | |
| 29 | 2 ROLLING BONES | |
| 30 | Kegger's Competition BBQ Team | |
| 31 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 32 | JUICE'S SMOKEN BBQ | |
| 33 | PORK DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 34 | BelBQ and the 5150's | |
| 35 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 36 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 37 | BIG O & MO BBQ | |
| 38 | RedJaz BBQ | |
| 39 | CHERRY LANE SMOKERS | |
| 40 | SWINE'OS | |
| 41 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 42 | Dr. Q | |
| 43 | PIG IN A PICKLE BBQ | |
| 44 | Flaming Moe's | |
| 45 | Smoketown BBQ | |
| 46 | Dirty's Wild West BBQ | |
| 47 | Half Fast Smokin | |
| 48 | SMOKE N GRILL BBQ | |
| 49 | Keith's BBQ Beast | |
| 50 | White Buffalo |
Chicken
50 entries · top 176.5600 · median 163.9370
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 2 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 3 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 4 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 5 | STARVIN MARVINS BAY AREA BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKESHOW | |
| 7 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 8 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 9 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 10 | JUICE'S SMOKEN BBQ | |
| 11 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 12 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 13 | RBQ | |
| 14 | FLAME THROWER BBQ CO. | |
| 15 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 16 | 2NQUE | |
| 17 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 18 | The Smoking J's | |
| 19 | Camacho's Southern Style BBQ | |
| 20 | JOHNNY BBQ | |
| 21 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 22 | Saltworks | |
| 23 | PIG IN A PICKLE BBQ | |
| 24 | 2 ROLLING BONES | |
| 25 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 26 | MAC BBQ | |
| 27 | SIGNATURE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 28 | Smoketown BBQ | |
| 29 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 30 | PORK DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 31 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 32 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 33 | RedJaz BBQ | |
| 34 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 35 | BelBQ and the 5150's | |
| 36 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 37 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 38 | Dr. Q | |
| 39 | BIG O & MO BBQ | |
| 40 | SWINE'OS | |
| 41 | White Buffalo | |
| 42 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 43 | Half Fast Smokin | |
| 44 | Dirty's Wild West BBQ | |
| 45 | Eads Downhome | |
| 46 | Keith's BBQ Beast | |
| 47 | CHERRY LANE SMOKERS | |
| 48 | SMOKE N GRILL BBQ | |
| 49 | Flaming Moe's | |
| 50 | Kegger's Competition BBQ Team |
Pork Ribs
49 entries · top 178.2972 · median 164
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Smoking J's | |
| 2 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 3 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 4 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 5 | Saltworks | |
| 6 | FLAME THROWER BBQ CO. | |
| 7 | SMOKESHOW | |
| 8 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 9 | Camacho's Southern Style BBQ | |
| 10 | BIG O & MO BBQ | |
| 11 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 12 | Kegger's Competition BBQ Team | |
| 13 | SIGNATURE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 15 | MAC BBQ | |
| 16 | RBQ | |
| 17 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 18 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 19 | JUICE'S SMOKEN BBQ | |
| 20 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 21 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 22 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 23 | 2 ROLLING BONES | |
| 24 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 25 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 26 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 27 | Eads Downhome | |
| 28 | 2NQUE | |
| 29 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 30 | CHERRY LANE SMOKERS | |
| 31 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 32 | STARVIN MARVINS BAY AREA BBQ | |
| 33 | BelBQ and the 5150's | |
| 34 | JOHNNY BBQ | |
| 35 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 36 | Dirty's Wild West BBQ | |
| 37 | PORK DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 38 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 39 | SMOKE N GRILL BBQ | |
| 40 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 41 | SWINE'OS | |
| 42 | Flaming Moe's | |
| 43 | Smoketown BBQ | |
| 44 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 45 | Half Fast Smokin | |
| 46 | RedJaz BBQ | |
| 47 | PIG IN A PICKLE BBQ | |
| 48 | Dr. Q | |
| 49 | Keith's BBQ Beast |
Pork
50 entries · top 180 · median 162.8172 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 2 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 3 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 4 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 5 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 6 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 7 | STARVIN MARVINS BAY AREA BBQ | |
| 8 | FLAME THROWER BBQ CO. | |
| 9 | Kegger's Competition BBQ Team | |
| 10 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 11 | Eads Downhome | |
| 12 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 13 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 14 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 15 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 16 | SMOKESHOW | |
| 17 | JOHNNY BBQ | |
| 18 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 19 | 2NQUE | |
| 20 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 21 | MAC BBQ | |
| 22 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 23 | The Smoking J's | |
| 24 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 25 | BelBQ and the 5150's | |
| 26 | PORK DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 27 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 28 | RedJaz BBQ | |
| 29 | 2 ROLLING BONES | |
| 30 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 31 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 32 | RBQ | |
| 33 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 34 | Saltworks | |
| 35 | PIG IN A PICKLE BBQ | |
| 36 | Dr. Q | |
| 37 | CHERRY LANE SMOKERS | |
| 38 | BIG O & MO BBQ | |
| 39 | Camacho's Southern Style BBQ | |
| 40 | Flaming Moe's | |
| 41 | SIGNATURE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 42 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 43 | JUICE'S SMOKEN BBQ | |
| 44 | SWINE'OS | |
| 45 | Half Fast Smokin | |
| 46 | Keith's BBQ Beast | |
| 47 | Dirty's Wild West BBQ | |
| 48 | White Buffalo | |
| 49 | SMOKE N GRILL BBQ | |
| 50 | Smoketown BBQ |
Brisket
50 entries · top 177.7028 · median 160.2572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 2 | SMOKESHOW | |
| 3 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 4 | MONSOON BBQ | |
| 5 | BIG POPPA SMOKERS | |
| 6 | PIRATES OF THE PIG | |
| 7 | HICKORY AND SPICE BBQ | |
| 8 | Eads Downhome | |
| 9 | SMOKED SEDUCTION | |
| 10 | MAR-B-QUE'S BBQ | |
| 11 | Sharpe's Woodshed | |
| 12 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 13 | SIGNATURE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 14 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 15 | The Smoking J's | |
| 16 | FU MAN QUE CREW | |
| 17 | SWINE'OS | |
| 18 | RAD FONDO BBQ | |
| 19 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 20 | Saltworks | |
| 21 | CYNICAL BBQ | |
| 22 | Kegger's Competition BBQ Team | |
| 23 | PORTERHOUSE BBQ | |
| 24 | Camacho's Southern Style BBQ | |
| 25 | JOHNNY BBQ | |
| 26 | RBQ | |
| 27 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 28 | PORK DADDY'S BBQ | |
| 29 | JUICE'S SMOKEN BBQ | |
| 30 | CHERRY LANE SMOKERS | |
| 31 | BelBQ and the 5150's | |
| 32 | Flaming Moe's | |
| 33 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 34 | MAC BBQ | |
| 35 | STARVIN MARVINS BAY AREA BBQ | |
| 36 | Dr. Q | |
| 37 | FLAME THROWER BBQ CO. | |
| 38 | 2 ROLLING BONES | |
| 39 | PORK BELLY'S BBQ OF CA | |
| 40 | RedJaz BBQ | |
| 41 | 2NQUE | |
| 42 | Half Fast Smokin | |
| 43 | SMOKIN' AXE BBQ | |
| 44 | BIG O & MO BBQ | |
| 45 | Smoketown BBQ | |
| 46 | Dirty's Wild West BBQ | |
| 47 | Keith's BBQ Beast | |
| 48 | SMOKE N GRILL BBQ | |
| 49 | White Buffalo | |
| 50 | PIG IN A PICKLE 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 — Mystery Meat
30 entries · top 180 · median 163.7084 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIG O & MO BBQ | |
| 2 | BAR-B-Q'S-2GO | |
| 3 | Smokey and the Pirate | |
| 4 | Eads Downhome | |
| 5 | Kegger's Competition BBQ Team | |
| 6 | SMOKESHOW | |
| 7 | MAC BBQ | |
| 8 | SLAP YO' DADDY BBQ | |
| 9 | BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | |
| 10 | FLAME THROWER BBQ CO. | |
| 11 | Camacho's Southern Style BBQ | |
| 12 | NOTHING COMPARES 2 Q | |
| 13 | The Smoking J's | |
| 14 | Saltworks | |
| 15 | SWINE'OS | |
| 16 | Dr. Q | |
| 17 | OLD TOWN FRANKLIN BBQ | |
| 18 | Keith's BBQ Beast | |
| 19 | PIG IN A PICKLE BBQ | |
| 20 | CHOWTOWN SMOKERS CALI | |
| 21 | SIGNATURE SMOKE BBQ | |
| 22 | RBQ | |
| 23 | RedJaz BBQ | |
| 24 | BelBQ and the 5150's | |
| 25 | JUICE'S SMOKEN BBQ | |
| 26 | Flaming Moe's | |
| 27 | Half Fast Smokin | |
| 28 | Smoketown BBQ | |
| 29 | SMOKE N GRILL BBQ | |
| 30 | 2NQUE |