Sep 4–5, 2021 · Didsbury, AB · CANADA · 📍 Rosebud Valley Campground
Reps: Brenda Black, Ken Black
MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB won Grand Champion at the BBQ on the Bow on September 4, 2021 in Didsbury, AB at Rosebud Valley Campground, scoring 677.7712 in a field of 29 teams. THE DEVIL MADE ME Q IT took Reserve Grand Champion with 672.5144. Category winners: Chicken — THE DEVIL MADE ME Q IT (174.2972); Pork Ribs — GRIZZLY PAW SMOKERS (176.5716); Pork — Double Aces Backyard Barbecue (172.5600); Brisket — Teh BFF's (174.2972). This is the 8th of 8 editions of this contest on record; the 2020 edition was won by Prairie Smoke & Spice.
Overall totals, every team on the board — tall stacks are where the pack sat.
Every board on one scale — the bar runs last score to first, the dot is the median.
What it has taken to win here, 2013 to 2021 — this edition picked out.
Everything below is read straight out of the results — the number on each card is the one that made it a story.
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 67 times in 100
MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB came in rated below the field's top team, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMOKERS, and took the Grand Championship anyway — roughly a 33-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings.
MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB won the Grand Championship without winning a single meat — 3 calls from 4 boards, best of them 2nd. Consistency beat fireworks.
2 of 8 tracked editions
SMELLAQUE has won this contest 2 times across its 8 tracked editions.
Chicken places 5–6: Brisket Butts and GRIZZLY PAW SMOKERS tied on 168.5484 — settled by the KCBS tiebreaker. Brisket places 3–4: Murfy's BBQ Co. edged MEAT SWEATS BBQ AB by 0.0460. Pork places 9–10: Rack Addicts BBQ Team edged Teh BFF's by 0.0800.
GRIZZLY PAW SMOKERS turned in 176.5716 in pork ribs — past the 176.0000 that had stood across 7 earlier editions.
Past winners of this contest cooked this edition: ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMOKERS (won 2017), HOME COOKIN' BBQ (won 2018).
| Date | Where | Venue | Teams | High score | Grand Champion | Reserve Champion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 31, 2013 | Calgary, Alberta, CA | Calgary, Alberta, Ca | 26 | 657.6796 | HOUSE OF Q | ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMOKERS |
| Sep 5, 2015 | Calgary, AB | Calgary, Alberta, T2W3J6 | 35 | 671.9312 | Bordertown Bar-B-Que | SMELLAQUE |
| Sep 3, 2016 | Calgary, Alberta, CA | Montgomery Community | 35 | 681.7144 | SMELLAQUE | ARROWHEAD NORTH BBQ |
| Sep 2, 2017 | Calgary | Montgomery Community Association | 42 | 666.2400 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN SMOKERS | SMELLAQUE |
| Sep 1, 2018 | Calgary | Montgomery Community Association | 43 | 677.7140 | HOME COOKIN' BBQ | BIGG SMOAK BBQ |
| Aug 31, 2019 | Calgary | 5003 16 Ave NW | 37 | 670.2972 | SmellaQue | RUSTY'S BBQ |
| Sep 26, 2020 | Didsbury, AB | Didsbury, Alberta, | 21 | 662.7656 | Prairie Smoke & Spice | SMELLAQUE |
| Sep 4, 2021 ← this one | Didsbury, AB | Rosebud Valley Campground | 29 | 677.7712 | Meat Sweats | THE DEVIL MADE ME Q IT |
| Category | 1st | 5th | 10th |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 174.2972 | 168.5484 | 164.5944 |
| Pork Ribs | 176.5716 | 170.8800 | 165.1200 |
| Pork | 172.5600 | 166.8228 | 163.9544 |
| Brisket | 174.2972 | 168.5600 | 161.7372 |
29 entries · top 677.7712 · median 640.9716
29 entries · top 174.2972 · median 161.7028
29 entries · top 176.5716 · median 161.1544
29 entries · top 172.5600 · median 158.8112
29 entries · top 174.2972 · median 160.5256