A new contest record
691.3832
highest overall ever cooked here
691.3832 is the highest overall score this contest has ever produced — past the 683.4740 TEAM EATAPEDIA set in 2017.
- old record 683.4740
- set 2017 by TEAM EATAPEDIA
Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival 2018
Oct 5–6, 2018 · Greenfield, MA · 📍 870 Wisdom Way
FIRE DOWN BELOW won Grand Champion at the Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival on October 5, 2018 in Greenfield, MA at 870 Wisdom Way, scoring 691.3832 in a field of 31 teams. INSANE SWINE BBQ took Reserve Grand Champion with 688.0344. Category winners: Chicken — FIRE DOWN BELOW (178.8572); Pork Ribs — SMOKIN ACES (177.7372); Pork — FIRE DOWN BELOW (178.8572); Brisket — ELJEFE SMOKE (176.5600). This is the 4th of 4 editions of this contest on record; the 2017 edition was won by TEAM EATAPEDIA.
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.
518.35
median 651.33
691.38 🏆
How the meats cooked
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
- Chicken 178.86
- Pork Ribs 177.74
- Pork 178.86
- Brisket 176.56
20
178.86
Winning score by edition
What it has taken to win here, 2015 to 2018 — this edition picked out.
Entries
31
4 judged meats · 5 ancillary
Top score
691.3832
Winning margin
3.3488
GC over RC
Field average
648.40
518.35691.38
median 651.33 · last place to winner
Perfect 180s
0
Tightest race
Pork
5.6800 pts across the top 5
Top-10 cutoff
674.8800
518.35691.38
10th place overall
Field spread
173.0288
winner to last place
Double threats
6
teams with 2+ top-5 calls
How hot was the win?
Top 66%
beats 34% of 4711 Master Series wins in the data
Came back for more
68%
17 of 25 teams from the previous edition returned
Form held
Strong
ρ = -0.75 between pre-contest rating and finish
Field strength
1,585
avg power rating going in · stronger than 68% 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.
An upset on the books
32-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 68 times in 100
FIRE DOWN BELOW came in rated below the field's top team, SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 32-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
- champion 1756
- top seed 1887
Photo finishes
0.0112
closest of 8 calls decided inside half a point
Pork Ribs places 6–7: SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ edged ELJEFE SMOKE by 0.0112. Pork places 9–10: Rogue Hog BBQ edged SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS by 0.0112. Pork Ribs places 9–10: FIRE DOWN BELOW edged Pikes Pits BBQ by 0.0232.
- Pork Ribs 6–7 · 0.0112
- Pork 9–10 · 0.0112
- Pork Ribs 9–10 · 0.0232
- Chicken 6–7 · 0.0340
A double category winner
2
category wins in a day
FIRE DOWN BELOW won Chicken, Pork — a double, and took the Grand Championship on top of it.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork 1st
How the title was won
4 of 4
meats called to the stage
FIRE DOWN BELOW took the title on 4 calls from 4 meats, with 2 outright wins — their weakest board was pork ribs at 9th.
- Chicken 1st
- Pork Ribs 9th
- Pork 1st
- Brisket 9th
A contest record in pork
178.8572
best pork ever cooked here
FIRE DOWN BELOW turned in 178.8572 in pork — past the 177.1544 that had stood across 3 earlier editions.
- old best 177.1544
- across 3 past editions
Back to defend
2
past champions back in the field
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: PORK BUTT PARADISE (won 2015), SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA (won 2016).
- PORK BUTT PARADISE · 2015
- SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA · 2016
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2015 | Greenfield, MA | Greenfield, MA 01301 | 25 | 682.7540 | PORK BUTT PARADISE | FOUR SMOKING GUYS |
| Oct 7, 2016 | Greenfield, MA | Greenfield, MA | 33 | 681.6340 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | QUE BIZ |
| Oct 6, 2017 | Greenfield, MA | 870 Wisdom Way | 25 | 683.4740 | TEAM EATAPEDIA | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA |
| Oct 5, 2018 ← this one | Greenfield, MA | 870 Wisdom Way | 31 | 691.3832 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | INSANE SWINE BBQ |
What a call cost (the score it took to finish 1st, 5th and 10th)
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 178.8572 | 172.5600 | 169.7144 |
| Pork Ribs | 177.7372 | 170.8800 | 166.2628 |
| Pork | 178.8572 | 173.1772 | 170.8344 |
| Brisket | 176.5600 | 169.7028 | 166.9028 |
Official results on kcbs.us ↗
Master Series
Overall
31 entries · top 691.3832 · median 651.3256
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 2 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 3 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 4 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 5 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 6 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 7 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 8 | ACK-QUE | |
| 9 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 10 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 11 | PORK BUTT PARADISE | |
| 12 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKIN BARRELS BBQ VT | |
| 14 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 15 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 16 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 17 | FOUR SMOKING GUYS | |
| 18 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 19 | T-BONE BBQ MA | |
| 20 | SMOKE U | |
| 21 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 22 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 23 | PORK AND MINDY | |
| 24 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 25 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 26 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 27 | BUB'S BBQ | |
| 28 | BluRoc BBQ | |
| 29 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 30 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 31 | Pikes Pits BBQ |
Chicken
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.2972
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 2 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 3 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 6 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 7 | SMOKIN BARRELS BBQ VT | |
| 8 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 9 | ACK-QUE | |
| 10 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 11 | PORK BUTT PARADISE | |
| 12 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 13 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 14 | FOUR SMOKING GUYS | |
| 15 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 16 | T-BONE BBQ MA | |
| 17 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 18 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 19 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 20 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 21 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 22 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 23 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 24 | SMOKE U | |
| 25 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 26 | PORK AND MINDY | |
| 27 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 28 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 29 | BUB'S BBQ | |
| 30 | BluRoc BBQ | |
| 31 | BOAR-N-Q |
Pork Ribs
31 entries · top 177.7372 · median 161.6916
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 2 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 3 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 4 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 5 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 6 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 7 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 8 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 9 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 10 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 11 | ACK-QUE | |
| 12 | SMOKIN BARRELS BBQ VT | |
| 13 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 14 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 15 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 16 | PORK BUTT PARADISE | |
| 17 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 18 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 19 | BluRoc BBQ | |
| 20 | BUB'S BBQ | |
| 21 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 22 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 23 | SMOKE U | |
| 24 | PORK AND MINDY | |
| 25 | T-BONE BBQ MA | |
| 26 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 27 | FOUR SMOKING GUYS | |
| 28 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 29 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 30 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 31 | CIDER BOYS BBQ |
Pork
31 entries · top 178.8572 · median 166.3316
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 2 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 3 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 5 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 6 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 7 | ACK-QUE | |
| 8 | FOUR SMOKING GUYS | |
| 9 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 10 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 11 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 12 | T-BONE BBQ MA | |
| 13 | SMOKE U | |
| 14 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 15 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 16 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 17 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 18 | BUB'S BBQ | |
| 19 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 20 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 21 | SMOKIN BARRELS BBQ VT | |
| 22 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 23 | PORK BUTT PARADISE | |
| 24 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 25 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 26 | PORK AND MINDY | |
| 27 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 28 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 29 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 30 | BluRoc BBQ | |
| 31 | HOKIE POKIE Q |
Brisket
31 entries · top 176.5600 · median 162.8572
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ELJEFE SMOKE | |
| 2 | Rogue Hog BBQ | |
| 3 | PORK BUTT PARADISE | |
| 4 | MILLER'S BACKYARD BBQ | |
| 5 | SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | |
| 6 | ACK-QUE | |
| 7 | INSANE SWINE BBQ | |
| 8 | SMOKING KEISTER'S BBQ | |
| 9 | FIRE DOWN BELOW | |
| 10 | PADDY MCQ'S | |
| 11 | SMOKIN BARRELS BBQ VT | |
| 12 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 13 | SMOKE U | |
| 14 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 15 | BOAR-N-Q | |
| 16 | SUWHEE Q | |
| 17 | SHORTSVILLE SMOKERS | |
| 18 | BIG RAZ BBQ | |
| 19 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 20 | SMOKIN ACES | |
| 21 | PORK AND MINDY | |
| 22 | T-BONE BBQ MA | |
| 23 | FOUR SMOKING GUYS | |
| 24 | BACKDRAFT BAR-B-Q CT | |
| 25 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 26 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 27 | BluRoc BBQ | |
| 28 | BUB'S BBQ | |
| 29 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 30 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 31 | Pikes Pits 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 — 0
10 entries · top 166.2856 · median 163.1028
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 2 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 3 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 4 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 6 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 7 | 10 BOOBS AND A BOB | |
| 8 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 9 | SMOKE U | |
| 10 | BURNT OFFERINGS |
Master Series — Chef'S Choice
10 entries · top 180 · median 168.2800 · 🔥 perfect 180
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SMOKE U | |
| 2 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 3 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 4 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 5 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 6 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 7 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 8 | 10 BOOBS AND A BOB | |
| 9 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 10 | GOLDEN GRILLZ |
Master Series — Chicken Wings
9 entries · top 170.8228 · median 163.4288
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 2 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 3 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 4 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 6 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 7 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 8 | 10 BOOBS AND A BOB | |
| 9 | GOLDEN GRILLZ |
Master Series — Nebs Grilling
10 entries · top 686.7768 · median 654.4516
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 2 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 3 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 4 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 5 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 6 | 10 BOOBS AND A BOB | |
| 7 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 8 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 9 | GOLDEN GRILLZ | |
| 10 | SMOKE U |
Master Series — Pizza
10 entries · top 174.2972 · median 162.2856
| # | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | BOO BOO QUED | |
| 2 | 10 BOOBS AND A BOB | |
| 3 | Pikes Pits BBQ | |
| 4 | SMOKE U | |
| 5 | Porked by Mauler | |
| 6 | BURNT OFFERINGS | |
| 7 | CIDER BOYS BBQ | |
| 8 | HOKIE POKIE Q | |
| 9 | SMOKIN BULLDOGS | |
| 10 | GOLDEN GRILLZ |