In this edition
Every sanctioned contest scored in December 2024.
Covering KCBS-sanctioned contests
The Smoke Ring
Competition Barbecue’s Paper of Record
The Index
- Grand Champions A2
- The Month in Brief A3
- Perfect Scores A5
- Ratings Market A6
- The Backyard A7
- New to the Circuit A8
- Box Scores B1
- Complete Results B4
- Back Issues C4
Score of the month
GETTIN' BASTED Turns In the Month’s Best Card
705.1200 out of 720 at BBQ Jackpot — the highest Master overall scored in December 2024.
top 1% of every Master overall ever scored
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — GETTIN' BASTED put up 705.1200 at BBQ Jackpot — the highest overall of the month.
Across December 2024, 2 sanctioned contests were scored, across 2 states and provinces, drawing 107 teams to the turn-in table. Judges made 100 top-ten calls and handed out 11 perfect 180s. 10 teams appear in the record for the first time. The full standings run on B1.
Every Grand Championship in this edition — 2 in all.
Perfect 180s
Judges Hand Out Eleven Perfect 180s
Six cards, every one a nine — 11 times in December 2024.
11 perfect scores handed out
Six judges, every card a 9: 11 perfect 180s were handed out in December 2024.
Closest call
Decided by 1.7600 Points
Organizer Portal edged COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship — the closest finish of the month.
1.7600 points between 1st and 2nd
DEMOPOLIS, Ala. — Organizer Portal edged COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ by 1.7600 at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship.
Contest record
Organizer Portal Sets the Record at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
698.8228 out of 720 — the best overall in 4 editions on record, past 698.2172.
698.8228 a new high for this contest
DEMOPOLIS, Ala. — Organizer Portal put up 698.8228 at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship — the best overall in 4 editions of the contest on record, past the old mark of 698.2172.
Also in Dec 2024
Texas Original Charcoal Climbs 17 Rating Points
Texas Original Charcoal gained 17 rating points across 1 contest — the biggest climb of the month.
Two State Champions Crowned
2 state championships were decided in December 2024. The biggest, BBQ Jackpot (74 teams), went to Gettin' Basted.
NORALA BBQ TEAM Tops the Backyard Board at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
NORALA BBQ TEAM put up 358.8572 on the Backyard board at Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship — two meats, a different scale, and the same nerves.
74 Teams Roll Into Las Vegas
BBQ Jackpot drew 74 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it.
A New Contest Opens in Las Vegas
BBQ Jackpot ran for the first time on record, drawing 74 teams, and Gettin' Basted won it. Somebody put in the work to make a new contest happen.
Perfect 180s
11 perfect scores — six judges, every card a nine.
- Brisket B' Mackin BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Chicken BULL MARKET BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Brisket IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Chicken LOOT N' BOOTY BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Chicken Mad Dog BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Pork Ribs Modest Meats Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Dec. 6
- Chicken NORALA BBQ TEAM Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Dec. 6
- Chicken Old Town Franklin BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Chicken Roughhouse Barbecue BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Brisket SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
- Chicken Texas Original Charcoal BBQ Jackpot · Dec. 6
The Ratings Market Power rating and the move over Dec 2024; # is the team’s place in the power rankings
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Original Charcoal | 1,550 | ▲ 17 |
| Roughhouse Barbecue #2,148 | 1,533 | ▲ 17 |
| ONE PIT WONDER #2,180 | 1,532 | ▲ 17 |
| Mad Dog BBQ #933 | 1,612 | ▲ 15 |
| COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ #406 | 1,697 | ▲ 15 |
| Small Axe BBQ #366 | 1,709 | ▲ 14 |
| My Pits R Burnin | 1,557 | ▲ 13 |
| Big Boys BBQ #953 | 1,610 | ▲ 12 |
| Team | Rating | Chg. |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry Anchor BBQ #324 | 1,719 | ▲ 11 |
| Beards BBQ #3,371 | 1,496 | ▲ 10 |
| BBQ Drip | 1,483 | ▼ 11 |
| Kickin' Butt | 1,476 | ▼ 12 |
| Churchill Downs Smokers | 1,466 | ▼ 12 |
| Rhythm n QUE #351 | 1,711 | ▼ 16 |
| IOWA'S SMOKEY D'S BBQ #57 | 1,840 | ▼ 17 |
Full power rankings → · Ratings move only on rated contests; invitationals and non-points events are excluded.
The Backyard Two meats, out of 360 — never against the Master board
The Backyard division was cooked at one contest in Dec 2024.
- 1 NORALA BBQ TEAM Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 358.8572
- 2 LEE LA Q Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 351.9656
- 3 Rollin Smoke BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 350.8112
- 4 Smokey Bees BBQ - MS Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 349.6800
- 5 Modest Meats Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 348.5372
- 6 RIBLIFE Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 346.2516
- 7 Electro-Que-ted Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 346.2400
- 8 The Real Squeal BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 345.1088
- 9 BatWing BBQ Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 342.2516
- 10 2 Swine Crew Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship · Demopolis, Ala. 341.6572
The Backyard series in full → · Its own record board, its own champions and its own Team of the Year.
New to the Circuit First appearance anywhere in the record — the figure is their best finish
- 11th Colonel Rusty Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
- 13th Captain Morgan Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
- 16th Semex Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
- 18th PB & J Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
- 19th Greene County Grillmasters Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship
- 56th Gringo Jalapeno BBQ Jackpot
- 58th Big Juicy BBQ BBQ Jackpot
- 64th LV Bucketlist BBQ BBQ Jackpot
- 67th Eduardo_BBQ BBQ Jackpot
- 74th Churchill Downs Smokers BBQ Jackpot
What a first season usually looks like → · 1 contest also ran for the first time on record: BBQ Jackpot.
Best of Each Meat
Both series, out of 180
| Meat | Team | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken†7 | Roughhouse Barbecue BBQ Jackpot |
180 |
| Pork Ribs† | Modest Meats Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship |
180 |
| Pork | GETTIN' BASTED BBQ Jackpot |
178.8572 |
| Brisket†3 | SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ BBQ Jackpot |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GETTIN' BASTED | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| NORALA BBQ TEAM | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Organizer Portal | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| BAR-B-CUDA BBQ | 1 | — | — |
| COCAMOKE SMOKE BBQ | 1 | — | 2 |
| LEE LA Q | 1 | — | 2 |
| SHAKE 'N BAKE BBQ | 1 | — | 2 |
| Poppa Pig | 1 | — | 3 |
| Rollin Smoke BBQ | 1 | — | 3 |
| Small Axe BBQ | 1 | — | 3 |
| BULL MARKET BBQ | 1 | — | 4 |
| CONTAGIOUS Q | 1 | — | 4 |
| Smokey Bees BBQ - MS | 1 | — | 4 |
| MEMPHIS ORIGINAL BBQ | 1 | — | 5 |
| Mad Dog BBQ | 1 | — | 5 |
Who Ran the Table
Contests worked · states & provinces
| Rep | C | St. |
|---|---|---|
| Carol Bigler | 1 | 1 |
| Kathleen McIntosh | 1 | 1 |
| Kelly McIntosh | 1 | 1 |
| Randy G Bigler | 1 | 1 |
Where They Cooked
Contests · teams
| State/Prov. | C | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 1 | 75 |
| Alabama | 1 | 32 |
Every sanctioned contest scored in this edition — 2 in all, newest first. Click a column head to sort; click a row for the contest.
| Contest | Grand Champion | High score |
|---|---|---|
| BBQ Jackpot Dec. 6 · Las Vegas, Nev. · 74 teams |
Gettin' Basted | 705.1200 |
| Christmas on the River State Bar B Q Championship Dec. 6 · Demopolis, Ala. · 11 teams |
Smoke Me Silly | 698.8228 |
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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