In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in December 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
Score of the month
LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
706.8460 out of 720 at King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) — the highest Master overall scored in December 2015.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
LA QUINTA, Calif. — LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ put up 706.8460 at King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) — the highest overall of the month.
Across December 2015, 4 sanctioned contests were scored, across 4 states and provinces, drawing 140 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 160 top-ten calls and handed out 3 perfect 180s. 18 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 4 in all.
First one ever
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE Wins Its First, on the 8th Try
A first Grand Championship at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ, after 8 contests in the record.
8th contest — and their first GC
DEMOPOLIS, Ala. — THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE won their first Grand Championship at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ, in their 8th contest in the data.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
The ratings gave THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE a 14% chance, with GETTIN' BASTED the team to beat.
14-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
DEMOPOLIS, Ala. — THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE won Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ over top-rated GETTIN' BASTED as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Judges Hand Out Three Perfect 180s
Six cards, every one a nine — 3 times in December 2015.
3 perfect scores handed out
Six judges, every card a 9: 3 perfect 180s were handed out in December 2015.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
King of the Smoker
Reserve: JO-BAWB'S BBQ
King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) — Dec. 11, La Quinta, Calif.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Dec 2015
Decided by 1.1200 Points
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE edged SMOKIN BUTT CREW by 1.1200 at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ.
ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE Climbs 18 Rating Points
ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE gained 18 rating points across 1 contest — the biggest climb of the month.
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE Crowned at Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE won Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ, a state championship, against a field of 36.
39 Teams Roll Into Calhoun
Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) drew 39 teams, and SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won it.
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ Wins Calhoun Koa's Smokin Up the Campground Without Winning a Meat
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Calhoun
Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) ran for the first time on record, drawing 39 teams, and SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Perfect 180s
3 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Chicken FUNTIME BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown · Dec. 11
- Pork WHISKEY RANCH BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown · Dec. 11
- Pork Ribs ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) · Dec. 4
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Dec 2015; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE #3,851 | 1,486 | ▲ 18 |
| Smokin it Up BBQ #598 | 1,659 | ▲ 18 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE #1,686 | 1,553 | ▲ 18 |
| SMOKIN BUTT CREW #533 | 1,671 | ▲ 14 |
| SWEET SMOKE BBQ #2,131 | 1,534 | ▲ 13 |
| Your Behind BBQ #749 | 1,634 | ▲ 12 |
| PIRATES OF PORKSCENTS #5,505 | 1,451 | ▲ 11 |
| PIG WHISPERERS #441 | 1,689 | ▲ 11 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| FUNTIME BBQ #788 | 1,629 | ▲ 10 |
| STEEL CITY BBQ #860 | 1,621 | ▲ 10 |
| HOUNDSTOOTH BAR B Q | 1,488 | ▼ 12 |
| VEGAS SOL | 1,488 | ▼ 12 |
| BAINBRIDGE MEAT BURNERS | 1,479 | ▼ 13 |
| Big Bad Barbecue | 1,487 | ▼ 13 |
| Swanny's Smokehouse Que | 1,486 | ▼ 14 |
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
- 11th WHISKEY RANCH BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown
- 24th Vegas Grillbillies 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown
- 27th Deep Forest Spices 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown
- 27th Naheola Pride Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- 28th VEGAS SOL 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown
- 29th Big Bad Barbecue 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown
- 30th Swanny's Smokehouse Que 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown
- 32nd In The Army Que Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier)
- 33rd The Pig-Pros Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- 35th DOZIER (HOG) WIRE Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- 36th HOUNDSTOOTH BAR B Q Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- 39th BAINBRIDGE MEAT BURNERS Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier)
- — 3 Guys, No Fires Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- — Arrow Cattle Co. Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- — Bull and Bones Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- — KICKIN' BUTT BAR-B-QUE Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- — Pipe Line Pit Crew Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
- — Plaza Golf Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ
What a first season usually looks like → · 3 contests also ran for the first time on record: Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier), 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown, King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken† | FUNTIME BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown |
180 |
| Pork Ribs† | ROLLIN' SMOKE COMPETITION QUE Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) |
180 |
| Pork† | WHISKEY RANCH BBQ 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown |
180 |
| Brisket | SMOKIN BUTT CREW Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ |
178.8572 |
† a perfect 180 was scored in this category during the edition.
Who Showed Up
Contests · Grand Championships · best overall finish
| Team | C | GC | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Organizer Portal | 2 | — | 3 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 2 | — | 9 |
| LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 Guys, No Fires | 1 | — | — |
| AirGas | 1 | — | — |
| Arrow Cattle Co. | 1 | — | — |
| Bull and Bones | 1 | — | — |
| KICKIN' BUTT BAR-B-QUE | 1 | — | — |
| LATE NIGHT BUTT RUBBERS | 1 | — | — |
| MASSKOSS | 1 | — | — |
| PIT ROW BBQ | 1 | — | — |
| PUCKDADDY'S KILLER Q | 1 | — | — |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 50 |
| Georgia | 1 | 39 |
| Nevada | 1 | 30 |
| California | 1 | 24 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 4 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
| Contest | Grand Champion | High score |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 Downtown Barbecue Throwdown Dec. 11 · Las Vegas, Nev. · 30 teams |
SMOKIN MO'S BBQ | 697.0628 |
| King of the Smoker Invitational (JUDGES FULL) Dec. 11 · La Quinta, Calif. · 24 teams |
LITTLE PIG TOWN BBQ | 706.8460 |
| Calhoun KOA's Smokin Up the Campground (GBC Qualifier) Dec. 4 · Calhoun, Ga. · 39 teams |
SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 693.0972 |
| Christmas on the River State Championship BBQ Dec. 4 · Demopolis, Ala. · 36 teams |
THE UNIVERSITY OF QUE | 684.4572 |
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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