by Luke Darnell, MABA President and pitmaster for Old Virginia Smoke

You may have needed an ark to get to your site, and you may have been on the search for “umami,” but this year’s BBQ Gives Back did not disappoint.

This was the first year that the competition was a double contest, and by and large the event was a great success from organizers Bill and Mary Jones.

This year’s event, as always, featured a contest within a contest, pitting all 8 of the Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup winners against each other for the MABA Cup Championship.  New this year, however, was that the MABA Cup winners would combine both scores for a two day total to crown their champion.

Day 1 featured some grizzly weather, but the teams endured.  Who Cares BBQ was crowned GC for Day 1, with Good Smoke as RGC.

The weather improved with Day 2, and double was very successful.  On Day 2, Good Smoke BBQ was the GC with Old Virginia Smoke winning RGC.

Their 2 day combined total gave Good Smoke the Gunter Wilhelm MABA Cup Championship!

Also at this event, BBQData.com provided an award for the two day score winner which was also Good Smoke.