Everyone had a fantastic time at the Byron BBQ Fest at North Peach Park in Byron, GA on Saturday September 30th. It was an “In Association With the GBA” event that had a field of 20 solid cook-teams. The majority of the Pitmasters were either first time competitors or had less than 5 cooks under their belts. Everyone was very excited to be competing and meeting other people that shared their BBQ passion.
This first-time event was sponsored by the Byron Welcome Center, Convention & Visitors Bureau. Selina Hall of the Byron Welcome Center, Convention and Visitors. We didn’t have any of the typical first-time event issues. We know a well run event when we are in one. Selina’s experience and expertise setting up, managing and executing events was extraordinary!
Ed Veseley ran the back table like the Pro he is. Brian Bond fought through printer problems as our Scorer. Rebecca Hoyt spread the GBA love all over everyone who came to the Turn-In Table. I really enjoyed how all the new teams fell right in to the GBA family vibe like they had been cooking with us for years.
The GBA Judges enjoyed the product that they judged I didn’t hear a single on of them make any remarks about being disappointed with the quality of the turn-ins. Overall the quality of the product was very good!
1st B-Rad’s BBQ
2nd Three Brothers BBQ
3rd Rollin Pit BBQ
TOP 3 CHICKEN RESULTS
1st Late for Supper Barbecue
2nd Posse BBQ
3rd Three Brothers BBQ
TOP 3 PORK RESULTS
1st Free Smokes BBQ
2nd Rollin Pit BBQ
3rd Posse BBQ
TOP 3 RIB RESULTS
RANKINGS IN ALL 3 CATEGORIES
HUGE CONRATS to ROLLIN PIT BBQ for their Combined 1st PLACE OVERALLFINISH
26 GBA teams descended on Griffin GA for a full weekend of BBQ – the 2023 Doc Holliday BBQ Championship, the 2023 Georgia State Brisket Championship, and 2023 GBA State Championship. This is truly a one-of-a-kind event – it’s the only one where you can see recreations of the famous Shootout at the OK Corral – and has some of the most sought after trophies on the GBA circuit.
Southern Hogs walked last for their first ever GBA Grand Championship, which also crowned them as the 2023 GBA Georgia State Champion.
319 Q Reserve Grand Champion
319Q was the most consistent team of the day, continuing their successful season and being named as the Reserve Grand Champion.
319Q took top honors in the Loin Category. Big Butts BBQ was second, followed by Real-Licious Q in third – who was also awarded a perfect 600 score for their preliminary Loin entry!
Southern Hogs won the Pork category, with Bubba Grills in 2nd and Shark Bite BBQ in 3rd.
Rescue Smokers was once again top Rib team, while 319Q placed 2nd and Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que landed in 3rd.
Off the Chain was named the 2023 Georgia State Brisket Champion, 2nd was Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que, and 3rd Real-Licious Q.
2023 Tony Thurston Award
The Doc Holliday BBQ Championship Organizers team also created a special award to honor the memory of Tony Thurston and his commitment to the Doc Holliday BBQ Championships. Tony was always present, always ready to help out, a man who stood for what competition barbecue and the Georgia Barbecue Association was all about. The 2023 Tony Thurston Award went to the Rescue Smokers BBQ Team!
Bite My Butt won the People’s Choice award. This is voted on by the festival patrons, and it’s often the only chance those patrons get to taste competition barbecue! A HUGE thank you to all the teams that take the extra time to participate in the People’s Choice category at these events. It’s a big draw and helps to keep these events coming back every year!
Now on to Team of the Year! In the Team of the Year points race, Rescue Smokers took over the top spot for overall Team of the Year, pushing Off the Chain down to 2nd by a single point over Posse BBQ. Shark Bite BBQ and Real-Licious Q traded spots to make up 4th and 5th places for Overall.
Off the Chain kept their top spot in Loin, but Posse BBQ closed the gap to 4 points in 2nd place. 319Q moved into 3rd.Off the Chain stays on top of the Pork category, with Rescue Smokers still hanging onto 2nd and Shark Bite BBQ in 3rd
Rescue Smokers holds on to first in the Rib category, and 319Q jumped over Real-Licious Q by a single point to take second.
Huge Congrats to Shark Bite BBQ on a great year as the 2022 Doc Holliday Grand Champion & GBA State Champion!
The next GBA event is the Byron BBQ Fest on Sept 30. This is an In Association With event, but it’s a great way to keep those competition skills shard. After that we’ll be in Donalsonville GA on Oct 14 for the Firehouse BBQ Cookoff, then the Modern Gas Ribs Showdown in Albany, GA on Oct 21. The Albany event has both a Professional and a IAW event, so cooks of any skill level are welcome to sign up and test your skills. The Red, White, and Blue BBQ in Canton, GA will finish out our season on Oct 28.
GBA Elections for the 2 at-large Board seats are active. To cast your vote, please review the following:
Before accessing the election link below, please navigate to the GBA site and login. This is an important first step, and if you miss it you may have trouble voting.
You can vote one time and one time only.
You can vote for one or two candidates. We encourage you to vote for two, but you’re not required to vote for two.
Once you hit the Submit button your vote is cast and cannot be changed for any reason. Please be very, very sure of your selections before clicking Submit.
After you vote, if you revisit the election link you’ll see your selections.
If you have trouble voting please see the Facebook post titled “Help for accessing the GBA site” in the GBA Facebook group. If you’re still having trouble please email me at scott@infotrakker.com, or any other GBA Board member and they’ll put you in touch with someone who can help. Remember, however, that we cannot assist you with membership issues, nor can we review your membership. During voting, all GBA Board members are locked out of the GBA membership system.
319Q, Grand Champions at Tifton Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival 2021
Twenty–seven professional BBQ teams returned to Tifton, Georgia on October 9, 2021 for the city’s annual celebration of music and BBQ. Several thousand visitors enjoyed the numerous and varied vendors, musical acts, and the BBQ competitions throughout the day, with a total of $10,000 in prize money awarded to Georgia Barbecue Association teams.
319Q claimed their first ever Grand Championship with their rib entry, and were the only team of the day to final in more than one category. The Grand earned them $3,000 and the championship trophy. Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que took home the Reserve Grand trophy and $1,500 after finishing 6th in Loin, 7th in Pork, and 2nd in Ribs.
First Loin
Second Loin
Third Loin
Johnson Boys and Girl won the loin category, followed by 319Q and Hootie Q.
First Pork
Second Pork
Third Pork
The Pork category saw two new teams take the top spots. Pig-EEE-Licious finished first after reaching the finals for their first time. Mornin Grillerz finished second in their first ever GBA sanctioned event. Hot Ash Q took third place after returning to competition.
First Rib
Second Rib
Third Rib
319Q was first in Ribs. Flyin Pig Bar-B-Que finished second, with Off the Chain in third place.
Full contest results can be found by clicking the links below.
The GBA schedule has three consecutive weeks of contests as we head to Double Point events at both Donalsonville on October 16 and Fort Valley on October 23. A first time event with the American Legion post in Canton is October 30. Please check out these and all of our other upcoming events at https://www.bbqga.org/
Cartersville Babes, BBQ, and Blues Grand Champion Bayshore Porkers
Twenty–one professional BBQ teams traveled north of Atlanta to Cartersville, Georgia on September 25, 2021 for this first time GBA event. It was a great mix of regular teams, the return of some old favorites, and several teams new to competitive BBQ or the GBA. To make things even more interesting, this was the first of three Double Point events for the season where all Team of the Year points are doubled.
Cartersville Babes, BBQ, and Blues Reserve Champions Peach Cost BBQ
Bayshore Porkers claimed their second Grand Championship of the season for their rib entry, along with $1,500 in cash and a trophy. Peach Coast BBQ took home $750 and a trophy as Reserve Grand Champions for the highest combined scores of the day after finishing 1st in loin, 7th in pork, and 6th in ribs.
Peach Coast BBQ came in first in Loin, and also had the only 600 of the day with their preliminary entry. Flyin’ Pig Bar-B-Que finished second. RBH finished third in their first professional BBQ contest.
First Loin
Second Loin
Third Loin
Johnson Boys and Girl finished first in pork, with Bite My Butt in second. First time GBA team Pig Out BarBQ came in third.
First Pork
Second Pork
Third Pork
Bayshore Porkers has finaled in Ribs in four of the first five contests this season, and this week was no exception as they won the category this week. Hootie Q claimed second, while first time GBA team Blue Smoke was third.
First Rib
Second Rib
Third Rib
Full contest results can be found by clicking the links below.
The GBA schedule goes into overdrive with events four weeks in row starting with the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival in Tifton October 9 before moving on to the Firehouse BBQ Festival Donalsonville on October 16 for a Double Points event. Then we come back to the GBA’s roots for the Smoke in the Valley contest at Fort Valley, Georgia for the final Double Points event of the season on October 23. Finally, we go back north for the Red, White, & Blue (American Legion Post 45) contest, a first time event on October 30 in Canton organized by the local American Legion post. Please check out these and all of our other upcoming events at https://www.bbqga.org/
