2010 Competitions Page

Smoke on the Water, North Little Rock, AR (March 19th-20th)

The worlds first EVER $100,000.00 BBQ competition. Awesome payouts for sure! We got $225.00, yeeehaaa. Thank God for our ribs, cause we stunk up the place otherwise. A decent overall finish, but we are really looking forward to Salisbury now. For a great story, check out "The Incident", coined by Daniel P. on our blog.

Our home for the weekend

Pork in the Park, Salisbury, MD (April 16th-17th)

The site of our first ever KCBS competition. Wow has this event grown, 132 teams for 2010! We faired well, getting a big call in brisket and a 10th overall finish. Certainly can't complain about that. The big news is this was the first competition for Chris Hall (Big Ugly BBQ) as an "official" member of the team. We can't be happier to have him on the team!

Dan McGrath prepping the whole hog (Thanks to hot sauce daily for the pic)

Grillin' & Chillin' 2010, Conowingo, MD (April 30th-31st)

Not KCBS sanctioned, but we don't like "off weeks" so we are doing this fun little comp. Plus, we decided to mix it up a bit and pit Dan H vs Chris. Suffice to say that despite Dan H choking in the rib category, he still got the job done and beat Chris who finished 7th overall. More important, a new pork technique REALLY paid off! Looking forward to having the team together again for Green Lane.

Smoke in the Valley, Green Lane, PA (May 14th-15th)

A total of 49 teams showed up for this comp put on by the Green Lane Volunteer Fire Department. We had a great time and our food really came through with a Reserve Grand! I can't begin to say how happy I am with the new Backwoods Fatboy smoker. Absolutely amazing cooker that is making life a lot easier. And big props to Chris on the new brisket injection :)

Dan H and Chris with RGC Trophy

Middletown BBQ Cookoff, Middletown, DE (May 21st-22nd)

Pretty good first year event, with 42 teams. We had all hands on deck for this one and we looked like a well oiled machine. Ended up with a 5th place finish, but more important, our ribs are back! Congrats to Black Cat BBQ on their first ever Grand Championship!

Roc City Ribfest, Rochester, NY (May 29th-30th)

Our first ever NY competition and it was awesome! Our spot? RIGHT on the beach, couldn't have asked for a better spot. And the organizer actually took us to our site at 12:30 in the morning on Saturday. Cost of ice - free. Breakfast - free. Dinner Saturday - free. Awards - late....but hey no ones perfect. Already looking forward to next year. KCBS had 69 teams, the ribfest 104 and big congrats to I-Que on the NEBS grilling GC.

Dan H, Casey and Chris with the 2nd place pork trophy

Beltway BBQ Showdown, Upper Marlboro, MD (June 4th - 5th)

We did it! Our first ever repeat at a contest. Grand Champions second year in a row. And even better, FINALLY got our 1st place brisket trophy that the collection has been missing. Now the team can stop listening to Dan H complain about that. Big props to Dan Mc for taking the time from the restaurant to setup, huge thanks to Chris for taking the red eye from LAX to join us Saturday and especially to Jonathan for putting on the contest. Does anyone hear 3peat, lol?

Dan Hixon, Dan McGrath and Chris Hall with Grand Champion Hardware

Brick Street BBQ, Marietta, OH (June 11th -12th)

Right across the river from where Tracy grew up is Marietta, OH so we had lots of friends and family visiting for our first time at this event and they certainly brought us good luck. We had 4 walks to the stage including another 1st place brisket award and reserve grand champion! Other than the humidity this was a great comp!

Chris, Dan H and Tracy with the goods!

National Capital BBQ Battle, Washington, DC (June 26th-27th)

This was a big one, a double. Saturday was KCBS and Sunday MBN. 107 Degrees under the canopy at turn in time. Hot damn. Our results? Well, I listed them below, but no excuses. Time for the next competition!

Que and Cruz, Louisa, VA (July 16th-17th)

3 Eyz BBQ and Big Ugly BBQ faced off against each other for the second time at this one. Technically 3Eyz "won" but really, we both kinda stunk up the place. The results are once again showing the mid season slump that we always seem to have. That's ok though, we had a blast. Bill Small did a great job and Black Cat deserves a big congrats for taking the GC.

Dan H and Brian relaxing (Thanks to VA BBQ Pirates for the pic!)

Holy Smoke BBQ, Easton, MD (July 23rd-24th)

OK, first time contests = ?. The venue gets a C- at best, but the organizers REALLY tried hard and other than late results, things went ok. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided at this one with plenty of bathrooms, water, electric and space. I hope they stick with it for next year. Our results? Better and looks like we are turning the corner and getting our second wind. A couple weeks off and its time for the home contest of Bel Air!

The Dan's and Dizzy Pig (Thanks to Dizzy Pig for the pic!)

Bel Air BBQ Bash, Bel Air, MD (August 13th-14th)

One word. Ouch!

Diamond State BBQ Championship, Dover, DE (August 20th-21st)

Thankfully these contests are 50% pork entries. Because if we depended on chicken and brisket to carry the day, well, the write up would have been "bend over" rather than "ouch".

New Holland Summerfest, New Holland, PA (August 27th-28th)

The 3Eyz team received RGC honors at this comp last year. This year? 18th. Not too bad out of 72 teams, but once again, pork carried us. Can't wait to start nailing chicken and brisket again :)

Pickin in the Panhandle, Hedgesville, WV (September 10th-11th)

HaHa, GREAT contest. Notice the results? Yep, we figured out chicken and brisket, that's awesome. So what the hell is with the ribs and pork? Dunno........

BBQ at the Beach, Raystown, PA (September 18th-19th)

A VERY late contest add. Try 4 days beforehand! Glad we did though as this was one GREAT contest. The results were awesome too as we finished with our 7th Reserve Grand Championship :)

Que by the Sea, Seaside Heights, NJ (September 24th-25th)

Dan H helped Big Ugly's BBQ at this one last year and liked it so much the team went back to the Jersey shore. A decent finish, but the highlight? That would be hitting white castle on the way home and trying to forget the brisket score......

Keystone Classic Barbeque, Harrisburg, PA (October 1st-2nd)

There is a saying that is pretty common. If you don't have anything nice to say, just don't say anything. I'm going to heed this advice for this write up.

Sorry, just one thing. Sal (Smoking Gnome BBQ), thanks for helping organize this contest and the beer :)

Smoke'n BBQ Showdown Mount Airy, MD (October 8th-9th)

A pretty good showing overall at this first year contest. Our take away from this one is that chicken will need some work. Bring on Chambersburg next weekend!

Smoketoberfest, Chambersburg, PA (October 15th-16th)

Well, this was the last KCBS contest of the season and we did ok. 9th Overall out of 48 teams, can't complain! Good contest with some really strange trophies. This contest should be a keeper for next year :)

Dan H grabbing an award! (Thanks to Smoketoberfest for the pic)

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