In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in December 2016.
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
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Turns In the Month’s Best Card
709.1084 out of 720 at Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships — the highest Master overall scored in December 2016.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ put up 709.1084 at Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships — the highest overall of the month.
Across December 2016, 4 sanctioned contests were scored, across 4 states and provinces, drawing 129 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 160 top-ten calls and handed out 3 perfect 180s. 15 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 4 in all.
By invitation only
LUCKY'S Q Wins the King of the Smoker
Best of 24 invited teams, with SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ in reserve — a win for the record book that leaves the power rating alone.
24 invited teams, one Grand Champion
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — LUCKY'S Q won The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full), best of 24 invited teams; SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ took reserve. An invite-only field, so it leaves the power rating alone and goes straight into the record book.
Upset of the month
The Long Shot Comes In at Christmas on the River
The ratings gave CONTAGIOUS Q a 34% chance, with Organizer Portal the team to beat.
34-in-100 shot on pre-contest ratings
DEMOPOLIS, Ala. — CONTAGIOUS Q won Christmas on the River over top-rated Organizer Portal as the ratings underdog.
Perfect 180s
Judges Hand Out Three Perfect 180s
Six cards, every one a nine — 3 times in December 2016.
3 perfect scores handed out
Six judges, every card a 9: 3 perfect 180s were handed out in December 2016.
Invite-only fields. Their results go into every team’s record; they don’t move the power rating.
King of the Smoker
Reserve: SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ
The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full) — Dec. 2, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
The invitational circuit → · every invitational on record, who keeps getting invited, and who wins them.
Also in Dec 2016
Decided by 1.1428 Points
LUCKY'S Q edged SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ by 1.1428 at The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full).
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Takes Three of Four Meats at Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ won 3 of 4 meats at Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships (chicken, pork ribs and brisket), and the Grand Championship with them.
2nd Hand Smoke Climbs 17 Rating Points
2nd Hand Smoke gained 17 rating points across 1 contest — the biggest climb of the month.
First Time Out, Swinos BBQ Takes 6th
Swinos BBQ finished 6th at When Pigs Fly South — the first contest they appear in anywhere in the data.
CONTAGIOUS Q Runs Away With Christmas on the River
CONTAGIOUS Q won Christmas on the River by 13.7600 points over The Specialists — the widest winning margin of the month.
36 Teams Roll Into Lakeland
When Pigs Fly South drew 36 teams, and UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ won it.
UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ Wins When Pigs Fly South Without Winning a Meat
UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ won When Pigs Fly South without winning a single meat — their best category finish was 2nd.
A New Contest Opens in Demopolis
Christmas on the River ran for the first time on record, drawing 34 teams, and CONTAGIOUS Q won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Three Contests on One Friday
3 sanctioned contests were cooked on 2 Dec alone.
Perfect 180s
3 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Brisket IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships · Dec. 9
- Brisket BAYOU BOOGIE BBQ Christmas on the River · Dec. 2
- Brisket Shanty Town BBQ When Pigs Fly South · Dec. 2
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Dec 2016; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Hand Smoke #6,404 | 1,391 | ▲ 17 |
| BLUE LINE BBQ OF FLORIDA #1,588 | 1,559 | ▲ 14 |
| SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE #91 | 1,812 | ▲ 14 |
| INGLORIOUS BASTERS #4,411 | 1,475 | ▲ 14 |
| Swinos BBQ | 1,496 | ▲ 12 |
| TPCFFL BBQ BOYZ | 1,511 | ▲ 11 |
| BUSH LEAGUE BBQ #1,271 | 1,581 | ▲ 11 |
| WINK'S BARBEQUE #498 | 1,677 | ▲ 11 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Accutech BBQ #903 | 1,616 | ▲ 11 |
| Swine Life #284 | 1,728 | ▲ 10 |
| Two Crackers Cooking #6,140 | 1,427 | ▼ 11 |
| The BBQ Shack Lakeland | 1,490 | ▼ 12 |
| Mother Truckers BBQ | 1,488 | ▼ 12 |
| SmokeStack BBQ #5,986 | 1,435 | ▼ 13 |
| 2 Live Que #2,717 | 1,513 | ▼ 15 |
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
- 6th Swinos BBQ When Pigs Fly South
- 13th Big Bear Christmas on the River
- 28th BLACK OPS BBQ Christmas on the River
- 29th Loose Cannon BBQ Christmas on the River
- 31st Big Sonny's Christmas on the River
- 32nd Houndstooth Christmas on the River
- 32nd The BBQ Shack Lakeland When Pigs Fly South
- 33rd Mother Truckers BBQ When Pigs Fly South
- 33rd Powerhouse 1 BBQ Christmas on the River
- 34th Powerhouse 2 BBQ Christmas on the River
- 36th 2 Live Que When Pigs Fly South
- — 3 Guys No Fries Christmas on the River
- — Big Sonny's Too Christmas on the River
- — KICKIN' BUTT Bar-B-Cue Christmas on the River
- — Nathan's BBQ Christmas on the River
What a first season usually looks like → · 3 contests also ran for the first time on record: Christmas on the River, Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships, The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full).
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships |
179.4400 |
| Pork Ribs | 913 BBQ The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full) |
178.8572 |
| Pork | LUCKY'S Q The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full) |
178.8800 |
| Brisket†3 | Shanty Town BBQ When Pigs Fly South |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 2 | — | 2 |
| GETTIN' BASTED | 2 | — | 7 |
| CLARK CREW BBQ | 2 | — | 8 |
| K-TOWN DADDY'S BBQ | 2 | — | 10 |
| SMOKIN TRIGGERS | 2 | — | 15 |
| CONTAGIOUS Q | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| LUCKY'S Q | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 Guys No Fries | 1 | — | — |
| BBQ Brothers | 1 | — | — |
| Big Sonny's Too | 1 | — | — |
| Bull & Bones | 1 | — | — |
| KICKIN' BUTT Bar-B-Cue | 1 | — | — |
| MASSKOSS | 1 | — | — |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 | 47 |
| Florida | 1 | 36 |
| Nevada | 1 | 28 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Down Town Throw Down Barbecue Championships Dec. 9 · Las Vegas, Nev. · 28 teams |
IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ | 709.1084 |
| When Pigs Fly South Dec. 2 · Lakeland, Fla. · 36 teams |
UNCLE TOAD'S COMPETITION BBQ | 691.3944 |
| Christmas on the River Dec. 2 · Demopolis, Ala. · 34 teams |
CONTAGIOUS Q | 705.1428 |
| The Smithfield King of the Smoker (INVITATIONAL) (Judges Full) Dec. 2 · Rancho Mirage, Calif. · 24 teams |
LUCKY'S Q | 701.1200 |
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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