In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in October 2015.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- Grand Champions A2
- The Month in Brief A3
- By Invitation A4
- Perfect Scores A5
- Ratings Market A6
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
By invitation only
THE SMOKING HILLS Wins the American Royal Invitational
Best of 187 invited teams, with PELLET ENVY in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — THE SMOKING HILLS won 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational, best of 187 invited teams; PELLET ENVY took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Across October 2015, 50 sanctioned contests were scored, across 22 states and provinces, drawing 2,051 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 1,968 top-ten calls and handed out 52 perfect 180s. 422 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 50 in all. The 14 oldest are listed under Complete Results, B4.
- FINN'S FINEST BBQ Boo B Que By the Sea
- BIG POPPA SMOKERS Oktoberfeast BBQ & Brews Festival
- COOL SMOKE Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
- THE SMOKIN' C'S BBQ Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off
- Bull & Bones Jack Daniel's World Championship Shade Tree Contest (BACKYARD - JUDGES FULL)
- GETTIN' SAUCED Border War BBQ
- BALD HAWG BBQ Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown & Fall Festival
- BUTCHER BBQ Smokin' the Fort - BBQ & Bluegrass Festival
- R BUTTS R SMOKIN Fountains Blaze off & Senior Q
- CNB BAR-B-Q TEXAS Dallas Kosher BBQ Championship (Competitor's Series)
- LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ Grills and Grilles
- WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ Smoking In The Foothills Barbecue Competition and Festival
- 4:20 Q Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest
- GREY STREET BBQ Ohio Smoked Meat & BBQ Festival
- YELLOW RIVER BBQ 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q
- SPITFIRE Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off
- PORKY BUTTS BBQ Harper County Bullseye BBQ
- SMOKE ME SILLY Mid-South Barbecue Festival
- IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Balloons Bikes Blues and Barbeque
- B TEAM BBQ MO Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff 2015 (BACKYARD-INVITATIONAL)
- BUNCH OF SWINES 3rd Annual BBQ Society Cook Off
- OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship
- REDNECK SCIENTIFIC Eastern Carolina BBQ ThrowDown
- QUAU Central Illinois Bragging Rights
- SAUCE THIS BBQ Smokin Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship $15,000
- VELVET SMOKE The River Grill before the Big Chill
- THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ Bliss, Brews & Que
- BURNT FINGER BBQ Cookin on the Kaw
- JO-BAWB'S BBQ Smoke on the Water
- BUTCHER BBQ Chillin and Grillin
- SMOKE ON THIS Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n
- THE PIT CREW GA The Real Squeal (GBC Qualifier)
- SWINE AND SHINE BBQ Rock'n Ribville
- KILLER HOGS Downtown BBQ Showdown
- PORK BUTT PARADISE Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
- PITMASTERIQ BBQ Anchor City Cook Off
Score of the month
BURNT FINGER BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
710.2860 out of 720 at Cookin on the Kaw — the highest Master overall scored in October 2015.
710.2860 Master overall, out of 720
DESOTO, Kan. — BURNT FINGER BBQ put up 710.2860 at Cookin on the Kaw — the highest overall of the month.
Hottest hand
Two Grand Championships in Oct 2015 for THE PIT CREW GA
Nobody else in the field ran a hotter hand.
2× Grand Championships
THE PIT CREW GA took 2 Grand Championships in October 2015.
First one ever
Bald Hawg BBQ Wins Its First, on the 39th Try
A first Grand Championship at Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown & Fall Festival, after 39 contests in the record.
39th contest — and their first GC
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Bald Hawg BBQ won their first Grand Championship at Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown & Fall Festival, in their 39th contest in the data.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
American Royal Invitational
Reserve: PELLET ENVY
36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational — Oct. 2, Kansas City, Mo.
Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff
Reserve: MAN VS QUE
Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff 2015 (BACKYARD-INVITATIONAL) — Oct. 14, Kansas City, Mo.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Oct 2015
GETTIN' SAUCED Defends Its Title at Border War BBQ
GETTIN' SAUCED won Border War BBQ again — back-to-back Grand Championships at the same contest.
The Long Shot Comes In at Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY)
Cool Smoke won Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue (JUDGES BY INVITATION ONLY) over top-rated IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ as the ratings underdog.
Judges Hand Out 52 Perfect 180s
Six judges, every card a 9: 52 perfect 180s were handed out in October 2015.
Decided by 0.0688 of a Point
FINN'S FINEST BBQ edged BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD by 0.0688 at Boo B Que By the Sea.
J & B'S BBQ Climbs 36 Rating Points
J & B'S BBQ gained 36 rating points across 3 contests — the biggest climb of the month.
First Time Out, Just Ribn' & Porkin Fun Takes 4th
Just Ribn' & Porkin Fun finished 4th at Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff 2015 (BACKYARD-INVITATIONAL) — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
JO-BAWB'S BBQ Runs Away With Smoke on the Water
JO-BAWB'S BBQ won Smoke on the Water by 20.6056 points over Boxer Q BBQ — the widest winning margin of the month.
606 Teams Roll Into Kansas City
36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open drew 606 teams, and GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA won it.
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Cooks Its 100th Contest
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ cooked their 100th contest on record at Balloons Bikes Blues and Barbeque, with 27 Grand Championships along the way.
Nobody Hauled Further Than Smoke-A-Holics
Smoke-A-Holics cooked 6 contests in October 2015 — nobody hauled the rig further.
THE SMOKING HILLS Wins American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational Without Winning a Meat
THE SMOKING HILLS won 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 3rd.
A New Contest Opens in Kansas City
36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open ran for the first time on record, drawing 606 teams, and GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM Takes Reserve Two Times
SAUCED! BBQ TEAM finished second overall 2 times in October 2015 without a Grand Championship — one place short every time.
16 Contests on One Friday
16 sanctioned contests were cooked on 9 Oct alone.
Perfect 180s
52 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Pork BIG POPPA SMOKERS Oktoberfeast BBQ & Brews Festival · Oct. 24
- Chicken FUNTIME BBQ Oktoberfeast BBQ & Brews Festival · Oct. 24
- Chicken BUFFALO'S BBQ Smokin' the Fort - BBQ & Bluegrass Festival · Oct. 23
- Chicken Hogline Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off · Oct. 23
- Pork Ribs SAUCED! BBQ TEAM Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown & Fall Festival · Oct. 23
- Pork Ribs SMOKE ON THIS Hillbilly Hog BBQ Throwdown & Fall Festival · Oct. 23
- Chicken HOT COLE'S BBQ Mid-South Barbecue Festival · Oct. 16
- Chicken LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ Grills and Grilles · Oct. 16
- Pork Ribs PORKY BUTTS BBQ Harper County Bullseye BBQ · Oct. 16
- Pork QUE'N STEW'N & BREW'N Big Buffalo Crossing BBQ Cook-Off · Oct. 16
- Brisket SAUCED! BBQ TEAM Smoking In The Foothills Barbecue Competition and Festival · Oct. 16
- Pork WICHITA SWINEMEN Harper County Bullseye BBQ · Oct. 16
- Brisket WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ Smoking In The Foothills Barbecue Competition and Festival · Oct. 16
- Chicken Angry Jack BBQ The Real Squeal (GBC Qualifier) · Oct. 9
- Brisket BIG POPPA SMOKERS Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship · Oct. 9
- Chicken BUFFALO'S BBQ Chillin and Grillin · Oct. 9
- Brisket BURNT FINGER BBQ Cookin on the Kaw · Oct. 9
- Chicken BURNT FINGER BBQ Cookin on the Kaw · Oct. 9
- Pork GRILLS GONE WILD IOWA Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship · Oct. 9
- Chicken HOGAHOLICS The River Grill before the Big Chill · Oct. 9
- Chicken KILLER HOGS Downtown BBQ Showdown · Oct. 9
- Pork Ribs OKLAHOMA JAYHAWK BBQ Chillin and Grillin · Oct. 9
- Pork OLD STYLE BBQ Cookin on the Kaw · Oct. 9
- Brisket OUTLAW HAWGS BBQ Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Championship · Oct. 9
…and 28 more.
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Oct 2015; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| J & B'S BBQ #436 | 1,691 | ▲ 36 |
| THE PIT CREW GA #806 | 1,627 | ▲ 35 |
| Cool Smoke #272 | 1,731 | ▲ 29 |
| LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER #435 | 1,691 | ▲ 28 |
| ATLANTA BBQ STORE #343 | 1,713 | ▲ 28 |
| GUZZY-Q #2,331 | 1,526 | ▲ 28 |
| SAUCE THIS BBQ #93 | 1,812 | ▲ 28 |
| DANTE'S INFERNO #623 | 1,655 | ▲ 27 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| 913 BBQ #36 | 1,858 | ▲ 27 |
| GREY STREET BBQ #5 | 1,943 | ▲ 26 |
| Burnin and Lootin #42 | 1,855 | ▼ 22 |
| Rocks Money Pit BBQ #513 | 1,674 | ▼ 23 |
| Willingham's #3,199 | 1,501 | ▼ 24 |
| Big D's BBQ #2,772 | 1,512 | ▼ 27 |
| MONTY PIGTHON & THE HOLY GRILL #1,130 | 1,592 | ▼ 28 |
Full power rankings → · Ratings move only on rated contests; invitationals and non-points events are excluded.
New to the Circuit First appearance anywhere in the record — the figure is their best finish
- 4th Just Ribn' & Porkin Fun Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff 2015 (BACKYARD-INVITATIONAL)
- 5th O U Gotta Taste This Que Riverside Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival
- 6th This Little Swine of Mine Ohio Smoked Meat & BBQ Festival
- 8th Down and Dirty Porkers Hog Wild BBQ Festival
- 8th Key corner cookers BBQ and Blues on the Levee
- 9th KC Smokin Boyz Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff 2015 (BACKYARD-INVITATIONAL)
- 9th Pigley Wrigley BBQ Go Hog Wild Arkansas BBQ Championship
- 9th SMOKING THROUGH THE NIGHT BBQ and Blues on the Levee
- 10th BARBECUE PATRIOTS 1st Annual Hot Q's & Cold Brews BBQ Championship
- 11th The CIS Heffers Holmes Drywall BBQ Cookoff 2015 (BACKYARD-INVITATIONAL)
- 12th HITTIN' THE GAS Cookin on the Kaw
- 12th Piggin' Whiskey Boo B Que By the Sea
- 12th STATELY COTTON BBQ and Blues on the Levee
- 13th ALE YEAH BBQ Ohio Smoked Meat & BBQ Festival
- 13th Hobo Joe's Smoking Road Show Go Hog Wild Arkansas BBQ Championship
- 13th THE BBQ BUS 10th Annual Lambs Farm Barn Burner Bar-B-Q
- 13th THE HAWG ROCK CAFE Squealin' on the Square
- 14th BALLANTYNE BBQ Waxhaw Grill'n & Chill'n
What a first season usually looks like → · 12 contests also ran for the first time on record: 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Open, 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational, City of Dana Point State BBQ Championship, Boo B Que By the Sea, Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 1 (GBC Qualifier), Eastern Carolina BBQ ThrowDown, Smokin Hot Atlantic City BBQ Championship $15,000, Best of the Midwest BBQ Cook off, 3rd Annual BBQ Society Cook Off, 1st Annual Hot Q's & Cold Brews BBQ Championship, Smoke-N-Thunder BBQ Classic Day 2 (GBC Qualifier), Jack Daniel's World Championship Shade Tree Contest (BACKYARD - JUDGES FULL).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†14 | BEAN BANDITS Hog Wild BBQ Festival |
180 |
| Pork Ribs†10 | WILD BOAR SMOKERS Hog Wild BBQ Festival |
180 |
| Pork†14 | LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational |
180 |
| Brisket†14 | CHICKEN BUTT BBQ UTAH 36th Annual American Royal World Series of Barbeque- Invitational |
180 |
† a perfect 180 was scored in this category during the edition.
Who Showed Up
Contests · Grand Championships · best overall finish
| Team | C | GC | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke-A-Holics | 6 | — | 5 |
| BUTCHER BBQ | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| JO-BAWB'S BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Organizer Portal | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| SMOKE ON THIS | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| THE AMERICAN DREAM BBQ | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| ATLANTA BBQ STORE | 5 | — | 2 |
| BUFFALO'S BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| HICKORY PRIME | 5 | — | 2 |
| SAUCED! BBQ TEAM | 5 | — | 2 |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 5 | — | 2 |
| OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE | 5 | — | 3 |
| SMOKIN HOGGZ BBQ - MA | 5 | — | 3 |
| CLARK CREW BBQ | 5 | — | 4 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 5 | 656 |
| Georgia | 5 | 175 |
| Kansas | 5 | 157 |
| Tennessee | 3 | 162 |
| Mississippi | 3 | 115 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 109 |
| Arkansas | 3 | 98 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 76 |
| California | 2 | 124 |
| Ohio | 2 | 100 |
| Illinois | 2 | 79 |
| Kentucky | 2 | 66 |
| Texas | 2 | 63 |
| Delaware | 1 | 65 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 57 |
| New Jersey | 1 | 46 |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 44 |
| Virginia | 1 | 37 |
| Nevada | 1 | 34 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 26 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 52 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
Contests Advertised
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 1) — Friday, Oct. 23. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT CHICKEN) — Friday, Oct. 23. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- VPD Back the Blue BBQ Competition — Friday, Oct. 23. Vidalia, La. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Rock Lane Presents Grills Gone Wild — Friday, Oct. 23. Branson, Mo. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- The Butcher's Smoke & Flames Barbeque Cookoff (BACKYARD ONLY) — Friday, Oct. 23. Cullman, Ala. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Foothills Smoke-Off Challenge — Friday, Oct. 23. Lenoir, N.C. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (Day 2) — Saturday, Oct. 24. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
- Red White & Que - CAMPGROUND BBQ SERIES (ONE MEAT RIBS) — Saturday, Oct. 24. West Creek, N.J. Entries through the organizer; sanctioned by KCBS.
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