Category: Contest Reports

The GBA returned for the first competition of 2019 at Dilly Dally in Dooly on February 22, 2019.  Fifty professional teams gathered on the historic grounds of the Big Pig Jig to battle for trophies, bragging rights, and over $10,000 in prize money.  As an added bonus, longtime pitmaster Darryl Strickland was married in front of his BBQ family in a ceremony held right before the awards.

Off the Chain claimed the Grand Championship for their loin entry.  Rescue Smokers won Reserve Grand Champion by finishing 5th in loin, 6^th in pork, and 1^st place in ribs.

As an example of just how competitive the GBA has become, all three loin finalists finished the preliminary round with the highest possible score of 600.  After the finals round, Off the Chain was declared the loin winner, followed by EZQ and Smoke Show.

Big Butts BBQ finished first in pulled pork.  The Pit Crew came in second in their first ever GBA competition.  Meanwhile, Southern Hogs/Dexter Meat Company retuned to competition for the first time this season with third place in pulled pork.

The ribs category was won by Rescue Smokers.  In their first BBQ competition ever, Big Daddy’s Meat House finished second in ribs, followed by newlywed Lang BBQ Smokers in third.

Finally, Smoke Show won the ancillary brisket contest, with Smokin’ the Good Stuff coming in second and Uncle Toads finishing third.

The full results for each category and Pro reserve scores can be found at the following links:

Loin, Pork, and Rib Results

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Dilly%20Dally%202019%20Scores.pdf

Reserve Scores

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Dilly%20Dally%202019%20Reserve%20scores.pdf

Brisket Scores

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Vienna%202019%20Brisket%20scores.pdf

The inaugural Brickyard BBQ Bash was held in Americus, Georgia on December 15, 2018. Thirty-one professional teams and a GBA record fifteen Cooking for Fun teams gathered for the final GBA event of 2018 at the KOA campground in Americus. Although rain was a factor until sunrise on Saturday morning, everyone was in great spirits for the event thanks to the hospitality of the host and organizers.

Smoke ‘Em Low walked away with their first Grand Championship with their pork entry. Off the Chain won their second Reserve Grand Championship of the season by finishing 2nd in loin, 2nd in pork, and 9th in loin.

Bite My Butt finished first in the Pro loin category, followed by Off the Chain and Weekend Warriors. Off the Chain received the only 600 of the event for their preliminary loin entry.

Smoke ‘Em Low took the Pro pork entry, with Off the Chain in second and Flint River Cookers in third place.

The Pro rib category was won by Uncle Toad’s BBQ. Rescue Smokers came in second place, with B’s BBQ taking third.

In the Cooking for Fun division, The Fire Hut Brew & Que won the chicken category in their first ever BBQ competition. Big Ed’s BBQ finished second and Smokin Sprays came in third in chicken.

CFF Pork was won by Pigliscious BBQ, followed by Rack ‘n’ Butts and Big Ed’s BBQ.

Richland BBQ Company won CFF ribs, with Big Ed’s in second and Smokin Sprays in third.

Big Ed’s was awarded a special gift basket provided by the Atlanta BBQ store for the highest combined scores across all three cooking for fun categories.

The full results for each category and Pro reserve scores can be found at the following links:

Pro Loin, Pork, and Rib Results
https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Americus%202018%20Pro%20Categories.pdf

CFF Chicken, Pork, and Rib results
https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Americus%202018%20Backyard%20Categories.pdf

Pro Reserve Scores
https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Americus%202018%20Reserve%20Scores.pdf

Weekend Warriors win Grand at Smokin’ Flamingo

Fifty-nine teams travelled to Jacksonville, Florida on November 15, 2018 to fight for their share of over $15,000 in prize money at the 6^th Annual Smokin’ Flamingo BBQ and Music Festival .  Although this event has been around for several years, we were honored that this was the first time it was a sanctioned GBA event.    In addition to the GBA BBQ contest, there were two different SCA cook-offs, along with live music and other activities.

When the smoke cleared, Weekend Warriors claimed the Grand Championship trophy and a check for $5,000 for their loin entry.  The trophy and $2,500 check for Reserve Grand Champion went to Big Papa’s Country Kitchen, who finished 8^th in loin, 7th in pork, and 4th in ribs in the preliminary rounds.

Loin winner

While Weekend Warriors won the loin category, We Want Que finished in second place and Off the Chain came in third.  Both We Want Que and Off the Chain received the highest possible score from the judges, a 600, for their preliminary loin entries.

Pork Winner

Just Smoke N’ Around won the pulled pork category, followed by Rescue Smokers and Bayshore Porkers.  All three finalist in pork tied during the preliminary round with a score of 599.7.

The top three finishers in the rib category were Smokin’ the Good Stuff, Pot’s BBQ, and Nut Job BBQ.

Smokin’ the Good Stuff also won $1,000 for the winner-take-all Brisket ancillary after breaking a three way tie.

The full results for each category and reserve scores can be found at the following links:

Loin, Pork, and Rib Results

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Jacksonville%202018%20Category%20scores.pdf

Brisket results

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Jacksonville%202018%20Brisket.pdf

Reserve Scores

https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/Jacksonville%202018%20Reserve%20scores.pdf

Forty-four professional BBQ teams traveled to Milledgeville, Georgia on October 20, 2018 to compete as part of Deep Roots Festival. This extended the current streak of every GBA sanctioned contest of the 2018-19 season having at least forty teams. The teams not only fought for their share of over $15,000 in prize money, but also bragging rights as the GBA State Champion.

For the second time this season, Holy Smokes was crowned Grand Champion with a trophy and $3,500 check. Along the way, Holy Smokes also finished first in both ribs and loin, and received a perfect 600 score for their preliminary loin entry. The Reserve Grand Championship went to Smokin’ the Good Stuff for the highest cumulative preliminary scores in all three categories by finishing 5th in loin, 3rd in pork, and 2nd in ribs.

Holy Smokes won the Loin category, with Off the Chain in second, and Blue Diablo BBQ finishing third. It was the first finals call for Blue Diablo.

Bubba Grills returned to GBA competition by winning the Pork category and scoring a 600 in the preliminary round. They were followed by Weekend Warriors in second place and Smokin’ the Good Stuff in third.

The top three teams in Ribs were Holy Smokes, Smokin’ the Good Stuff, and Tuff Dawg Grillers. This was the first GBA sanctioned contest for Tuff Dawg Grillers.

In the ancillary categories, Nut Job won poultry, Forget Me Not took the stew category, local team 5 O’clock Somewhere won desserts, and Sensational Pigs claimed the Bloody Mary title. Hold Your Horses won the People’s Choice award as the fans’ favorite.

Full Loin, Pork, and Rib Results are available here: https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/DRF%202018%20Pro%20Categories.pdf
All Reserve Scores are available here: https://gba.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Contest%20Results/DRF%202018%20Reserve%20scores.pdf

The Team of the Year points should already be updated on the GBA website.

The next GBA sanctioned event will be the 6th Annual Smokin’ Flamingo BBQ and Music Festival in Jacksonville, Florida on November 17 with 56 teams already scheduled to compete. Please register online at BBQGA.com if you would like to judge this new GBA contest. Contests in Moultrie on December 1, and a first time event in Americus on December 15, wrap up the 2018 calendar.

The next GBA judging class will be held in Griffin, Georgia shortly after the first of the year. Additional details and class registration information will be posted soon.