A familiar champion
9×
titles at this rep’s contests
SMELLAQUE has taken the Grand Championship at 9 of the contests this rep has run.
- 43 champions crowned in all
- 24 different teams
Ken Black
A KCBS contest rep working 4 states/provinces, most often around Didsbury, AB. By events worked they sit #42 of the 152 reps in the data. First on the record in 2019, latest contest Oct 25, 2025.
At a glance (their career as a contest rep, in numbers)
Contests run
46
every contest on their record · 11 judging classes · 7 cancelled
Among all reps
#42
of 152 reps by events worked · #82 by states covered
On the trail
2019–2025
8 seasons in the data · 7 in a row
This season
0
contests dated 2026 · 5.9 a season career-long
State championships
0
contests carrying a state title
Teams officiated
383
1,004 entries total · 4,077 meat boxes
Avg field
23
540
teams per contest · median 23
Field strength
1,539
avg power rating of their fields · above 29% of rated contests
GCs crowned
43
24 different teams · 41 reserve champions
First-ever titles
14
teams whose first GC anywhere came at one of theirs
Teams that started here
160
first contest in the data at one of theirs
Perfect 180s seen
16 🔥
out of 4,077 meat entries
Avg winning score (Master)
691.00
658.17711.44
41 Master contests · 694.10 across all contests
Avg winning score (Backyard)
334.27
298.23346.23
10 Backyard contests · 347.94 across all contests
Contests they return to
8
longest run 5 straight years at Didsbury Lions BBQ
Road between contests
11,661 mi
~1,458 miles a season · 834 mi corner to corner
Busiest month
September
12 of their 47 contests
Busiest 30 days
4
contests between Aug 7, 2021 and Sep 4, 2021
Prize money
$33K
across their events · biggest purse $15,000
Results on file
93%
43 of their contests have scores in the data
Storylines (14 found in this rep's record)
Read out of the contests they have run — reps don’t judge, so nothing here is a comment on anyone’s scores.
A long time on the trail
6.4 yrs
between first and latest contest
They've been repping KCBS contests since 2019-05-25 — 47 contests across 8 seasons in the data.
- 47 contests
- 8 seasons
- since 2019-05-25
Front row for greatness
16
perfect 180s handed in
16 perfect 180s have been scored at contests they've run — the first at Small Town Smoke Down Bassano Alberta on 2022-06-03.
- first at Small Town Smoke Down Bassano Alberta
- Jun 3, 2022
The longest shot
13-in-100
shot on pre-contest ratings
The ratings favoured the top seed the other 87 times in 100
At Smoke in the Valley, Phantom Smoke & BBQ came in rated below the field's top team, SMELLAQUE, and took the Grand Championship anyway.
- 20 upsets at their contests
- Sep 27, 2025
A first Grand Championship
14
teams won their first title here
14 teams took the first Grand Championship of their careers at one of this rep's contests — most recently Brews and Ques BBQ at Blue Bombers BBQ Tailgate Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY).
- Brews and Ques BBQ · 2025-10-25
- EFFIN'EH GRAY'S · 2025-10-11
- Phantom Smoke & BBQ · 2025-09-27
The big room
40
teams at their biggest contest
Their average field is 23 teams
Barbeque on the Bow Festival drew 40 teams — more than double the 23-team field they average.
The double act
65
contests run together
100% of this rep's events
Brenda Black and Ken Black have run 65 contests together since 2019.
- 1 co-rep in all
The annual
5×
editions of one contest
They have repped 5 editions of Didsbury Lions BBQ, 5 of them back to back.
- 2021 → 2025
- 5 straight years
A season on the road
11
contests in 2025
2025 was their busiest year on the trail: 11 contests and 254 team entries through the tables.
- 254 team entries
Where teams start
160
teams cooked their first contest here
160 teams turned in their first box at a contest this rep was running — for that many teams, this is where the record starts.
- Barrett's BBQ Co · 2025-10-25
- Bulldogz BBQ · 2025-10-25
- 301 Degrees of Deliciousness · 2025-09-06
A month of Saturdays
4
contests inside 30 days
Their heaviest run of the career: 4 contests between Battle River BBQ Showdown (POSTPONED) and BBQ on the Bow.
- Aug 7, 2021
- Sep 4, 2021
Every single season
7
seasons in a row, and counting
They have worked at least one contest in 7 consecutive seasons — an unbroken run through to the current one.
- 47 contests in all
- since 2019-05-25
The home circuit
64%
of their contests in AB
30 of 47 contests in AB
30 of their 47 contests have been in AB — this is a rep with a home circuit rather than a national one.
- Didsbury ×7
- 27 towns in all
Corner to corner
834 mi
between the two ends of their map
The two furthest-apart contests on their record sit 834 miles apart — Invermere and Winnipeg.
- Invermere, BC
- Winnipeg, MB
- 11,661 mi contest to contest
The story so far (8 numbers that describe this rep)
Busiest season
2025
11 events · 254 team entries
Contests a season
5.9
across 8 seasons in the data
Seasons in a row
7
still running — 7 and counting
Works mostly in
AB
30 of 47 contests · 4 states/provinces in all
Towns worked
27
most often Didsbury, AB (7)
Corner to corner
834 mi
Invermere to Winnipeg — the two ends of their map
Meat entries turned in
4,077
boxes on the boards across every contest they have run
Judging classes
11
CBJ classes on their record
Milestones (the firsts and the round numbers of a rep's career)
- 2019
- First contest repped Heritage Heat Western Smokin BBQ
- First Grand Champion crowned Heritage Heat Western Smokin BBQ
- First contest outside AB Bare Bones BBQ Cookoff
- 2020
- Back on the trail after 13 months BBQ on the Bow
- 2021
- 10th contest repped BBQ on the Bow
- Meat Sweats won their first-ever Grand Championship BBQ on the Bow
- 2022
- First perfect 180 at their tables Small Town Smoke Down Bassano Alberta
- 2023
- Highest overall score seen (711.4400) Small Town Smoke Down
- First 40-team field Barbeque on the Bow Festival
- 25th contest repped Barbeque on the Bow Festival
- Biggest field worked (40 teams) Barbeque on the Bow Festival
- 2025
- Deepest field worked (1571 avg rating) Smokey Skies BBQ Competition
- Biggest upset seen (13-in-100 shot) Smoke in the Valley
- Most recent contest Blue Bombers BBQ Tailgate Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY)
Season by season (how many contests a season, and how many carried a state title)
The climb (every contest they have run, added up)
Their year (contests by month)
Where they work
Field size by season (average and biggest)
Field strength by season (avg power rating going in)
What it took to win (Master winning scores)
How the meats scored (board average vs the winning call)
Who keeps winning (titles at their contests)
Career map (gold = state championship · bigger pin = more visits — tap one)
Every season (click a column to sort)
| Season | Contests | States | Entries | Teams | Avg field | Biggest | State champ. | 180s | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2025 | 3 | 254 | 98 | 23 | 38 | — | 5 | $15,000 | |
| 2024 | 3 | 183 | 75 | 26 | 39 | — | 6 | $5,000 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 169 | 99 | 21 | 40 | — | 3 | — | |
| 2022 | 2 | 174 | 86 | 25 | 39 | — | 2 | $4,750 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 110 | 63 | 22 | 29 | — | — | — | |
| 2020 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | — | — | — | |
| 2019 | 2 | 93 | 74 | 23 | 37 | — | — | $8,000 |
Champions crowned (titles at their contests)
| Team | Titles | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| SMELLAQUE | 9 | 2025-09-06 |
| Brisket Butts | 4 | 2025-09-12 |
| ARROWHEAD NORTH BBQ | 3 | 2022-09-03 |
| BIGG SMOAK BBQ | 2 | 2025-06-30 |
| Kreiser Barbecue | 2 | 2025-06-21 |
| Q Cartel | 2 | 2025-05-31 |
| SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | 2 | 2024-05-25 |
| Prairie Smoke & Spice | 2 | 2022-06-03 |
| Arrowhead North | 2 | 2022-05-28 |
| Brews and Ques BBQ | 1 | 2025-10-25 |
| EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | 1 | 2025-10-11 |
| Phantom Smoke & BBQ | 1 | 2025-09-27 |
First-ever Grand Championships (a team's first title anywhere, won here)
| Team | Contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Brews and Ques BBQ | Blue Bombers BBQ Tailgate Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) | Oct 25, 2025 |
| EFFIN'EH GRAY'S | Bean Town BBQ Cookoff | Oct 11, 2025 |
| Phantom Smoke & BBQ | Smoke in the Valley | Sep 27, 2025 |
| Kreiser Barbecue | Columbia Valley Smoke Show | Jun 1, 2024 |
| 333BBQ | Smoke 'N the Valley | Sep 23, 2023 |
| Meat Sweats BBQ | Barbeque on the Bow Festival | Sep 2, 2023 |
| The Notorious P.I.G. | Didsbury Lions BBQ | Aug 5, 2023 |
| Panther BBQ | Smoke, Wind & Fire (Backyard) | Jul 20, 2023 |
| SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | Father's Day Smoke n' Bones BBQ | Jun 16, 2023 |
| BURNT TREES BBQ | Smoke 'N the Valley | Sep 10, 2022 |
| MOTLEY QUE | Didsbury Lions BBQ | Aug 27, 2022 |
| Brisket Butts | Columbia Valley Smokeshow | Jun 24, 2022 |
Contests they keep coming back to
| Contest | Editions | Run | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Didsbury Lions BBQ | 5 | 5 straight | 2021–2025 |
| Barbeque on the Bow Festival | 3 | 3 straight | 2023–2025 |
| Small Town Smoke Down | 3 | 3 straight | 2023–2025 |
| Smoke, Wind & Fire | 3 | 2 straight | 2021–2022 |
| Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship | 2 | 2 straight | 2024–2025 |
| Smoke, Wind & Fire | 2 | — | 2023–2023 |
| Porkapalooza BBQ Festival | 2 | 2 straight | 2021–2022 |
| BBQ on the Bow | 2 | 2 straight | 2020–2021 |
Where they work (contests by state/province)
| State / province | Contests | Share |
|---|---|---|
| AB reps here | 30 | |
| SK reps here | 6 | |
| MB reps here | 2 | |
| BC reps here | 1 |
Towns on their map
| Town | Contests | Latest |
|---|---|---|
| Didsbury, AB | 7 | 2025-07-26 |
| Calgary, AB | 6 | 2025-08-30 |
| Bassano, AB | 4 | 2025-05-31 |
| Lethbridge | 3 | 2022-07-23 |
| Winnipeg, MB | 2 | 2025-10-25 |
| Calmar, AB | 2 | 2025-05-24 |
| Raymond, AB | 2 | 2023-07-20 |
| Sherwood Park, AB | 2 | 2022-05-28 |
| Bow Island, AB | 1 | 2025-10-11 |
| Edmonton, AB | 1 | 2025-09-27 |
| Leduc, AB | 1 | 2025-09-12 |
| Bonnyville, AB | 1 | 2025-09-06 |
Upsets at their contests (champion rated below the field's top seed)
| Contest | Champion | Top seed | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke in the Valley | Phantom Smoke & BBQ 1520 | SMELLAQUE 1849 | 13-in-100 |
| Columbia Valley Smokeshow | Brisket Butts 1485 | SMELLAQUE 1803 | 14-in-100 |
| Didsbury Lions BBQ | MOTLEY QUE 1468 | ARROWHEAD NORTH BBQ 1753 | 16-in-100 |
| Prairie Dog on the Bow | Q Cartel 1546 | SMELLAQUE 1831 | 16-in-100 |
| Embers and Ice Pitmaster Championship (formerly Porkapalooza BBQ Festival) | Brisket Butts 1527 | SMELLAQUE 1807 | 17-in-100 |
| Smoke 'N the Valley | 333BBQ 1537 | SMELLAQUE 1808 | 17-in-100 |
| Small Town Smoke Down | Q Cartel 1571 | SMELLAQUE 1836 | 18-in-100 |
| Smoke 'N the Valley | BURNT TREES BBQ 1552 | GETTIN' SAUCED 1813 | 18-in-100 |
The boards at their contests (every meat entry they have run)
| Meat | Entries | Board avg | Winning avg | 180s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken | 1,060 | 164.80 | 175.26 | 5 |
| Pork Ribs | 1,061 | 163.13 | 175.20 | 1 |
| Pork | 969 | 163.89 | 176.50 | 4 |
| Brisket | 987 | 161.67 | 176.50 | 6 |
Frequent co-reps
| Rep | Events together | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Brenda Black | 65 |
Teams that cook under them most
| Team | Contests | Wins | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kreiser Barbecue | 33 | 2 | 2019 |
| SMELLAQUE | 29 | 10 | 2019 |
| MOTLEY QUE | 28 | 1 | 2019 |
| Homestead Smoke Shack | 27 | — | 2021 |
| Brisket Butts | 26 | 5 | 2021 |
| Hogparts School of Smokecraft and Brew'ery | 26 | — | 2019 |
| Fire BBQ | 25 | — | 2019 |
| ARROWHEAD NORTH BBQ | 23 | 5 | 2019 |
| HOME COOKIN' BBQ | 22 | 1 | 2021 |
| SMOKIN' OUTLAWS | 20 | 2 | 2021 |
| Notorious P.I.G. | 20 | 1 | 2019 |
| Mark's Meats and Treats | 20 | — | 2022 |
Teams whose first contest was one of theirs
| Team | Debut contest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Barrett's BBQ Co | Blue Bombers BBQ Tailgate Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) | Oct 25, 2025 |
| Bulldogz BBQ | Blue Bombers BBQ Tailgate Showdown (BACKYARD ONLY) | Oct 25, 2025 |
| 301 Degrees of Deliciousness | Big Smoke Bonnyville | Sep 6, 2025 |
| Ryan Smoke 3G | Big Smoke Bonnyville | Sep 6, 2025 |
| The Little LebowsQ | Barbeque on the Bow Festival | Aug 30, 2025 |
| 4KFarms-Greengate | Barbeque on the Bow Festival | Aug 30, 2025 |
| 10 or Bust | Barbeque on the Bow Festival | Aug 30, 2025 |
| Hawt Hawgs BBQ | Barbeque on the Bow Festival | Aug 30, 2025 |
| Grilling with Short | Didsbury Lions BBQ | Jul 26, 2025 |
| Rollin Smoke Barbecue 2023 | Didsbury Lions BBQ | Jul 26, 2025 |
| toma-HACK BBQ | Blue Bombers BBQ Pit Master Showdown | Jun 30, 2025 |
| Big W BBQ | Blue Bombers BBQ Pit Master Showdown | Jun 30, 2025 |