Thanks to everyone for posting this info. I am a beginner, I did about 6 or 7 competitions in later part of last year. The best score I had was 15.4500. I have been working very hard to improve nonstop for months. I even attended the SCBA complimentary class for beginners, thanks to the SCBA, I have been practicing cooking, testing, trying to learn everything possible. Chester is the first competition I have done this year. I know I turned in a better box than I ever did last year. I had good texture, tenderness was good, doneness was dead on. I built the "prettiest" box I have ever turned in. Picture is on my facebook page, Morgan Wilkes.I sauced with a top quality sweet red sauce because if you turn in anything else, I believe you stand no chance at all with the judges, sad, but I believe that to be true. I ended up scoring a 14.600. I was discussed. I rode home thinking this is rediculous. I turned in a box last year that contained bbq that was a little on the tuff side, no sauce at all, had pulled meat with a sliced money muscle that some of the bark was missing, no burnt ends, no tubes, and score a 15.4500. I know my box at chester was better than that. I even got my good friend that was cooking next to me, 2 time SCBA champion,sample the meat, I tried to get him to criticize it, and he said he would have no problem turning it in himself. Maybe I need a new hobby, but to spend so much time and money on working to learn, and improve for over 5 months and turn in a box that I know for a fact was the best I have ever turned in, then score that low.....???????? "Sorry for complaining, I normally do not complain about anything, but for me to keep competing, I have to lay this out there. Sorry if I offend anyone, these statements are toward judging, not the SCBA.

--Previous Message--
: Explanation, PLEASE!!
: Yes, we too, thank Jim Wellman and the
: wonderful staff at Saluda Shoals for putting
: on a great event at a beautiful venue. But…
:
: Can someone that judged, please explain to
: the cooks how 3 past State Champions, 8
: Winners of the past 10 Festivals this year,
: 7 members of the 16+ Club can only receive
: the high score of 4.5 for Tenderness and 4.6
: for Taste?
: Did we all forget how to cook? Were their
: special instructions given at the Judges
: Meeting that morning? Did we use the Novice
: Table scores? Maybe a computer glitch?
: Just looking for an explanation from any
: participating judge.
: Thank you. Quentin and Barbara Tedder,
: S’Lowcountry Q, Master Judges, Marshals,
: SCBA
:
: