News

Hendersonville's Midnight Burn runnerup for NC barbecue crown

By Bill Moss, Published: June 18, 2015

Rocky Top Barbeque claimed its second Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival Grand Championship in three years — and its second Grand Championship in two weeks, after capturing the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour event just last weekend in Asheville.

The husband and wife duo of Walt and Rebecca Moulton—along with 15-month-old daughter Mia—hails from Jonesborough, Tenn. En route to the championship, they captured first place in two of the four required meat categories. In chicken they had a score of 180 and in ribs they got a “perfect” 180.
“It feels real good to win,” Moulton said, “and especially good to have the two 180s.” He added that they knew they had cooked well this weekend.
A Hendersonville team, Midnight Burn, led by Kim Hicks, was runner-up in the North Carolina State Championship rankings and was the fourth place winner overall.
This year’s Reserve Grand Champion (second place) also captured the coveted “Governor’s Cup,” awarded to the highest scoring North Carolina team. Two Old Men and a Grill from Bessemer City took both honors and so owns the bragging rights which rightfully belong to the North Carolina State Championship team. Pitmeister Bob Roberts and his wife were the Grand Champions at the Tryon event in 2012.
Third place went to The Blue Bloods from Hammond, Louisiana, led by David Mauro.
Approximately 80 cooking teams competed in the 22nd annual Blue Ridge BBQ & Music Festival.