The two looked at each other and high-fived, smiles widening on both their faces as the sun gleamed off their glasses.
The reserve champions for the Flames on the Flint BBQ Cook Off, Wink’s Barbecue, had just been announced, leaving Mike Ashley and Robert Williams as the last men standing on the stage.
Out of the 75 barbecue teams from across the U.S. that showed up in Bainbridge last weekend for the chance at taking home some of the $30,000 purse, Way 2 Que from Sharpsburg, Georgia, was the champion.
“If you would have talked to us three hours ago, I would have told you this was the worst cook we’ve ever done,” Ashley said, laughing.
This marks the second year Ashley and Williams have been involved in the world of competitive barbecue, and the first grand championship they’ve won.
“With all these high-dollar teams, we are blown away,” Williams said.
Way 2 Que was awarded $7,500 for the win. They’re already looking to sign up for next year’s Flames on the Flint, which is set to increase to a $50,000 purse, making it the biggest barbecue competition payout in the southeast.
Flames on the Flint organizer Ronnie Godwin was blown away by announcement of the purse increase last Saturday before the award ceremony.
“That’s absolutely nuts,” he said.
Next year, Godwin said he and the cook off committee plan to expand the infrastructure to allow for 100 teams at the Earle May Boat Basin. Additionally, they plan to give out a special award to the champion winner in the Chicken category.
This year’s winner, Bill Allen of Hollywood N Swine from New Jersey, passed away within an hour of receiving the champion award for Chicken and sealing the deal with a perfect score of 180. Godwin said the award is going to be renamed the Bill Allen Award to honor Allen’s life and love for barbecue.
“We want to do something really special to emphasize he scored a perfect 180,” Godwin said, comparing the score to a hole in one on the golf course.
Other category winners were Bald Hawg BBQ in Pork Ribs, Big Daddy Q in Pork and Rollin’ Smoke Competition Que in Brisket, who also had a perfect score of 180.
Everything from live country music to blacksmiths provided entertainment for the crowd at the boat basin during Friday and Saturday during River Town Days
“We are absolutely thrilled with the entire event,” River Town Days Chairman Jeff Findley said. “We were fortunate to have great weather on Friday. It was perfect. We just hope the community was able to enjoy everything we had to offer. This would have been impossible to pull off without the unwavering support of the community.”
Friday night featured the loud rock ‘n roll of cover band Fly By Radio, who played everything from classic favorites to modern hits. Saturday morning kicked off early with a 5K and Kid’s Bike Race, followed by all sorts of rides and games for all ages.
Bluegrass band Midnight Rain plucked and sang early in the afternoon and was followed by the country tunes of Americus musician Brandon Vann. The Flames on the Flames on the Flint award ceremony capped off the event.