The first MarshWalk Festival in Murrells Inlet is now soggy history. It rained off and on all day leaving water standing in the roads, the ditches and the fields. Nevertheless, 18 teams (all they had room for) participated and the staff at the Wicked Tuna could not have done a better job for a first event. With good humor they worked hard and braved the weather and left all of the cookers praising their efforts. The cookers are still agog about that gourmet breakfast of omelets, biscuits and gravy, sausage and eggs and more. And they all wanted to take home one of those great trophies made out of 800 year-old cypress wood hauled up from the bottom of the Waccamaw River where it had rested for over 100 years. With a real meat cleaver affixed to the top of that beautiful wood it made a most striking prize. And they weren’t shy about passing them out either giving one to everybody through five places plus people’s choice and the Friday night Wing Ding.
They even had some great bands including a very young but very good “Stepin Stones” with a 17 year old girl as the vocalist who could really belt them out. But then so could the vocalist in the country group that was there the name of which I’ve, unfortunately, forgotten. When they were playing and the vocalist was singing “Jolene” I had to walk around there to see if it was real or a recording. It was definitely real plus real good.
When you consider that they also had three different craft beer distributors there keeping the people entertained too this is going to be a festival to put on your visit list in the future.
Joe Hilliard and the Bold Branch Boys took home the top prize in butts plus a second in ribs. They obviously came to play. One other interesting situation at Murrells Inlet was that the MarshWalk had five teams sporting a Murrell Inlet address none of which had cooked SCBA before. In fact I think four of them had not competed in a cook-off before. Plus there were a couple of other teams who were giving it their first effort. We were quite pleased with that. These new teams did well, especially in the Wing Ding and People’s Choice. Plus there were a couple of North Carolina teams there, one of which finished in the money.
My assistants were Quentin and Barbara Tedder who did their usual splendid job reliving me of all the work. Quentin will be the Marshal next year. Mike Wilson had the scores in jig time and you may have noticed that scores are all being posted immediately by Don Dickens who is new at that job. He also sat on one of the novice tables. We had just enough judges but I was disappointed to see that a few who signed up did not show up. A few (three) sent me an email telling me that they were going to have to miss which I appreciated but a few did not. Please remember - if you sign up you should show up.
Rev. Joe Tanham, Ed Dauganus and Greg Gladney handled the three full tables of novices we had (we had to turn novices away at sign-up so we have some enthusiasm novices in the wings) and Gene Yow who is just coming on line for new tasks handled his second table captain duty with his usual great enthusiasm. David Mobley had to struggle along on the receiving table without Dan Shine who couldn’t make it (he sent me a note forewarning me of his absence) but thank goodness Diane Gladney was there to keep him straight.
Despite the off-and-on rain some of which was hard, a good number of people showed up for the festival and if the weather gods are favorable next year it should be a remarkable success given the location and the hard-working staff. Even though I will not be the Marshal next year I’ll probably be there just to enjoy the fun.
As Lake said I was able to sit at a novice table at the Marshwalk event. Greg Gladney was our table facilitator who instructed our small group. This was my first time as well as a few of my other table mates. Greg was super in providing information and guidance to all of us. You can really tell he takes a lot of pride in training up judges. I learned a lot from him and look forward to perfecting my judging capabilities. Thanks Greg for being so dedicated to helping us start our hands on judging journey.
--Previous Message-- : The first MarshWalk Festival in Murrells Inlet : is now soggy history. It rained off and on : all day leaving water standing in the roads, : the ditches and the fields. Nevertheless, : 18 teams (all they had room for) : participated and the staff at the Wicked : Tuna could not have done a better job for a : first event. With good humor they worked : hard and braved the weather and left all of : the cookers praising their efforts. The : cookers are still agog about that gourmet : breakfast of omelets, biscuits and gravy, : sausage and eggs and more. And they all : wanted to take home one of those great : trophies made out of 800 year-old cypress : wood hauled up from the bottom of the : Waccamaw River where it had rested for over : 100 years. With a real meat cleaver affixed : to the top of that beautiful wood it made a : most striking prize. And they weren’t shy : about passing them out either giving one to : everybody through five places plus people’s : choice and the Friday night Wing Ding. : : They even had some great bands including a : very young but very good “Stepin Stones” : with a 17 year old girl as the vocalist who : could really belt them out. But then so : could the vocalist in the country group that : was there the name of which I’ve, : unfortunately, forgotten. When they were : playing and the vocalist was singing : “Jolene” I had to walk around there to see : if it was real or a recording. It was : definitely real plus real good. : : When you consider that they also had three : different craft beer distributors there : keeping the people entertained too this is : going to be a festival to put on your visit : list in the future. : : Joe Hilliard and the Bold Branch Boys took : home the top prize in butts plus a second in : ribs. They obviously came to play. One : other interesting situation at Murrells : Inlet was that the MarshWalk had five teams : sporting a Murrell Inlet address none of : which had cooked SCBA before. In fact I : think four of them had not competed in a : cook-off before. Plus there were a couple of : other teams who were giving it their first : effort. We were quite pleased with that. : These new teams did well, especially in the : Wing Ding and People’s Choice. Plus there : were a couple of North Carolina teams there, : one of which finished in the money. : : My assistants were Quentin and Barbara : Tedder who did their usual splendid job : reliving me of all the work. Quentin will : be the Marshal next year. Mike Wilson had : the scores in jig time and you may have : noticed that scores are all being posted : immediately by Don Dickens who is new at : that job. He also sat on one of the novice : tables. We had just enough judges but I was : disappointed to see that a few who signed up : did not show up. A few (three) sent me an : email telling me that they were going to : have to miss which I appreciated but a few : did not. Please remember - if you sign up : you should show up. : : Rev. Joe Tanham, Ed Dauganus and Greg : Gladney handled the three full tables of : novices we had (we had to turn novices away : at sign-up so we have some enthusiasm : novices in the wings) and Gene Yow who is : just coming on line for new tasks handled : his second table captain duty with his usual : great enthusiasm. David Mobley had to : struggle along on the receiving table : without Dan Shine who couldn’t make it (he : sent me a note forewarning me of his : absence) but thank goodness Diane Gladney : was there to keep him straight. : : Despite the off-and-on rain some of which : was hard, a good number of people showed up : for the festival and if the weather gods are : favorable next year it should be a : remarkable success given the location and : the hard-working staff. Even though I will : not be the Marshal next year I’ll probably : be there just to enjoy the fun. : : : : :