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West Coast makes BBQ history with 3 championships in less than 30 hours
By Al Talena Jr.
Never before in more than 25 years of the Kansas City BBQ Society history have THREE open/non-invitational full FOUR meat BBQ State Championships ever been accomplished in just two days (less than 30 hours from the first turn in to the last award). This was done by doing 1.5 contests on Saturday August 15, 2009, and then the remaining 1.5 contests on Sunday August 16, 2009. There were some good reasons behind this idea, and even a rule had to be waived by the KCBS Board of Directors to allow this to occur.
Photo by Pat Brandon
West Coast BBQ Championship contest #2 Reserve Grand Champion: Slap Yo’ Daddy BBQ. |
For the last six years, California’s longest running BBQ contest — the West Coast BBQ Championships — has been partnered with the Fairfield Tomato Festival, which has become a two-day event instead of a one-day event. That meant the West Coast BBQ Championships had to become a two-day event.
So we created three KCBS contests divided over the two days. This allowed anyone who had been daunted by turning in the standard four KCBS meats in the normal 100 or so minute time span, or someone who didn’t have enough cook space to manage all four meats simultaneously to still compete. Chicken and ribs were turned in BEFORE the Saturday four meat contest, and the pork and brisket were turned in AFTER the Sunday four meat contest.
Photo by Pat Brandon
West Coast BBQ Championship contest #2 Grand Champion & contest #3 Reserve Grand Champion: Rhythm ‘n Que. |
As such 1.5 contests a day would be in violation of KCBS Rule #2. West Coast BBQ Championships applied for and received a waiver from KCBS, thanks to the help and support of Gene Goycochea and Merl Whitebook.
To add just another layer of challenge to this iron man cook, West Coast BBQ Championships also had a Mystery Meat category. Until they received the product at about 9 p.m. Friday evening, the only real thing that the contestants knew about the Mystery Meat was that it was Rancher’s Reserve beef The meat that the cooks were given was Cordelico Sirloin (flap meat) supplied to the contestants by Safeway’s Rancher’s Reserve.
Big O’s BBQ took top honors for this entry, with many of the contestants getting VERY creative in this category.
Photo by Pat Brandon
West Coast BBQ Championship contest #1 Reserve Grand Champion: Brazen BBQ.
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The West Coast BBQ Championships by the numbers — over $14,000 in prize money was given away. Eighty trophies were distributed (some even to first time teams!) A total of 37 contestants. About half did all three contests, while the other half did just the “split” contest. There were over 300 actual turn in’s — in addition to the Mystery Meat. Safeway Ranchers’ Reserve handed out 15,000 samples of Cordelico sirloin to the eager public.
Not one turn in was missed. Not one was late. Not one was the wrong meat/time. Not one was DQ’ed. This was of course managed by our outstanding KCBS rep team of Jim Monihan (out of Boise, ID), as well as Kelly & Kathleen McIntosh. We also had a huge number of CBJs turn out with a 95% CBJ pool. Of the two non-CBJs in the pool, one was a former CBJ.
The team that can't be kept away from a BBQ contest based out of Lancaster, CA — All Hogs Go to Heaven — led by Steve "One Sock" Madaule, has been doing well in recent contests but, has always come up shy of top honors. All Hogs Go to Heaven redeemed them selves by taking Grand Champion not just once but, TWICE! That's right All Hogs Go to Heaven won GC at state championships two days in a row!
Photo by Pat Brandon
West Coast BBQ Championship contest #1 and contest #3 Grand Champion: All Hogs Go to Heaven.
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The final award of the weekend became the most special. Not just for the teams present at this contest but, for many others who were not present. It's not many times that contests get to announce a direct entry (no draw) into the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue. This is how history was made for the California BBQ Association 2008 Team of the Year, Vincent Carrocci and Alexa Fairbairn of Rhythm N’ Que out of Scottsdale, AZ . West Coast BBQ Championships was able to be the contest that gave Rhythm N’ Que their 7th Grand Champion win this year! This gives them an automatic into the 21st Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue.
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