COLUMBIA, SC – The aroma of smoked meat and the sizzle of barbecues filled the air as the first-ever Southeastern BBQ Showdown (SEBBQSD) wrapped up its fiery competition at Segra Park. Drawing culinary talent from across the nation and as far as Japan, this event showcased some of the best BBQ pitmasters vying for top honors and substantial prizes.
BBQ enthusiasts and food lovers alike gathered to witness the exciting showdown, which saw competitors firing up their grills on Lang BBQ Smokers and presenting mouth-watering creations across various categories. The Champions Barbecue Alliance (CBA), known for its dedication to the food sport, served as the official sanctioning body for the event.
“The Southeastern BBQ Showdown was a hit, thanks to the incredible efforts from everyone involved—from event emcee Mark Conway to our host, Capital City/Lake Murray Country, and the dedicated staff at Segra Park,” said Steven Pfeiffer, CBA’s Out of State Area Ambassador. “It’s hard to believe this was a first-year event, given how well-organized it was. We are excited to see what the future holds for this fantastic cook-off,” added CBA Board Member Ronda Pfeiffer.
Local and International Pitmasters Shine
Robert Smith and Brian Keen of First Class BBQ, hailing from Hempstead, Texas, took home the Grand Champion title and a $10,000 cash prize. They also earned a coveted Golden Ticket to compete at the World Food Championships (WFC) in Indianapolis, Indiana, scheduled for November 8-12, 2024.
“Competing in South Carolina and winning the Grand Championship was an unforgettable experience,” said Robert Smith. “We didn’t expect to come out on top, but it’s a testament to the hard work we put in. It was a day to remember, and we are grateful for the opportunity.”
The top five finishers in the competition were:
- 1st Place Reserved – Cool Hand Rooster from Georgia
- 2nd Place – Rio Smoke from Texas
- 3rd Place – Smoke Central BBQ from South Carolina
- 4th Place – Tail-Gater Hater from South Carolina
Special awards were also presented for the “Best Booth,” which went to Backwoods Bar-B-Que from Texas, and the “People’s Choice” award, won by The Sue Chefs. A second Golden Ticket to the WFC was awarded to Wagyu Boys from Japan, who traveled the farthest to compete.
Overall Competition Results
The event featured esteemed judges including Mark Henry, Chef Brian Duffy, and Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. The competition results were as follows:
- Grand Champion/WFC Golden Ticket: First Class BBQ, Head Chef Robert Smith, Hempstead, TX
- 1st Place Reserved: Cool Hand Rooster, Head Chef Adam Dawkins, Lavonia, GA
- 2nd Place: Rio Smoke, Head Chef Al Lino, Rio Hondo, TX
- 3rd Place: Smoke Central BBQ, Head Chef Jason Singletary, Lake City, SC
- 4th Place: Tail-Gater Hater, Head Chef Phillip Miles, Lake City, SC
- Best Booth Award: Backwoods Bar-B-Que, Gene Culbertson, Trenton, SC
- People’s Choice Award: The Sue Chefs, Peter Nguyen, Grand Prairie, TX
- WFC Golden Ticket (Team that Traveled the Farthest): Wagyu Boys, Yoshitake Kitamura, Tokyo, Japan
Category Winners
Chicken:
- First Class BBQ, Robert Smith, Hempstead, TX
- Tail-Gater Hater, Phillip Miles, Lake City, SC
- Smoke Central BBQ, Jason Singletary, Lake City, SC
- Backwoods Bar-B-Que, Gene Culbertson, Trenton, SC
- The Sue Chefs, Peter Nguyen, Grand Prairie, TX
Ribs:
- Tail-Gater Hater, Phillip Miles, Lake City, SC
- First Class BBQ, Robert Smith, Hempstead, TX
- Cool Hand Rooster, Adam Dawkins, Lavonia, GA
- Rio Smoke, Al Lino, Rio Hondo, TX
- Smoke Central BBQ, Jason Singletary, Lake City, SC
Pork:
- Tail-Gater Hater, Phillip Miles, Lake City, SC
- Cool Hand Rooster, Adam Dawkins, Lavonia, GA
- Smoke Central BBQ, Jason Singletary, Lake City, SC
- Rio Smoke, Al Lino, Rio Hondo, TX
- Kirby Q BBQ & Catering, Richard Kirby, Sumter, SC
Brisket:
- Cool Hand Rooster, Adam Dawkins, Lavonia, GA
- Smoke Central BBQ, Jason Singletary, Lake City, SC
- Rio Smoke, Al Lino, Rio Hondo, TX
- First Class BBQ, Robert Smith, Hempstead, TX
- Backwoods Bar-B-Que, Gene Culbertson, Trenton, SC
The Southeastern BBQ Showdown was hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. For more information and updates on future events, visit southeasternbbqshowdown.com.
