Bubba Grills Takes Grand at Bikes, Blues & BBQ

The Georgia Barbecue Association brought competition BBQ back to Douglas, GA for the Bikes, Blues & BBQ Festival held at Douglas Gene Chambers Municipal Airport. Twenty-seven teams persevered though heavy rains and a late night wind storm to produce championship BBQ.  The GBA judges really had their work cut out for them as the close scoring indicated a high level of quality pork loin, pulled pork and pork ribs made it to the tables.

Grand Champion – Bubba Grills

Reserve Grand Champion – G.A.S. Passers

The City of Douglas really rolled out the red carpet for the GBA’s cook teams, judges and officials.  The plans were in place for two days of great Blues music, motorcycle shows & games, a vintage car show & about 75 food & craft vendors.  Unfortunately, the weather forced cancellation of most of the events. Still, despite the weather challenges, the festival organizers held a very successful contest.

Lonnie Smith & his Bubba Grills team from Haddock, GA had the highest scoring entry of the finals round. His Ribs scored a 597.9 to earn the Grand Championship.  G.A.S. Passers of Hazlehurst, finaled in Ribs along with a fourth place in Pulled Pork and sixth place in Pork Loin to win the Reserve Grand Championship.

In Pork Loin, Bubba Grills topped the field in the category. Douglas, GA’s Bethel Smokers took second place. Smoking 42 BBQ claimed third place.  Mojo Smokehouse finished fourth with H & J Cooking Crew finishing in fifth. Sixth through 10th places went to:  G, A.S. Passers;  Dirt Road Smokers; Drive By Smokers; Smokin-AJ’s & Ricketson Construction.

Harvey & Shirley Willis of Fiddler’s BBQ won the Pulled Pork Category with Bethel Smokers once again taking second place. Another Douglas team, Ricketson Construction claimed third place. G.A.S. Passers took fourth.  Only 1.6 points separated 5th through 10th places. A tie for fifth place went to the fifth tiebreaker before Triple Threat Smokers gained an edge over TC’s BBQ. Rounding out the top 10 were: Bubba Grills, Smokin AJ’s, B-Queb’d; and Smokin 42 BBQ. Hard Rock Hill BBQ missed the top 10 by just a half point.

Bubba Grill’s championship winning Rib box topped the category. G.A.S. Passers claimed second place.  Third place went to Loud Pipe Grillers. 92 BBQ took fourth with Smokin’ 42 BBQ in fifth place.  TC’s BBQ; Lightning Strike BBQ; Hungry Hog BBQ; Mojo Smoke House and Hurricane Cookers finished 6th through 10th places respectively

The Georgia Barbecue Association would like to thank the City of Douglas, organizing staff and the multitude of volunteers for their hospitality and a great contest.  All the GBA teams & judges are looking forward to returning in 2015.

Full Results: (note: 1st, 2nd & 3rd places are final round scores. All others are from the preliminary rounds)