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Team BBQWAR show off their “tankosaurus” grilling machine.
Joe Hermon led Blitzkrieg BBQ to victory.
Michael Cook applies the sauce with brother Steven.
Glenn Manning, of The Smokin ‘Que, conducts a taste test.
After hours of cooking BBQ Pitbros find time to relax. From left, David Glynn, Rich Blair, Ben Littler and Nick Borland.
Top barbecue competitors from all over the country heaped generous praise on the Whangateau Holiday Park, following a successful “Smoke on the Coast” event on December 5 and 6.
Organiser Derrick Paull says he picked the venue after fond memories of holidaying at the park as a child.
He says it’s the first time Whangateau has hosted the event. Feedback has been virtually unanimous from competitors that the site, overlooking Omaha Bay, is the best in New Zealand for a barbecue competition.
Teams cooked several meat dishes over a 24 hour period for the competition, including pork ribs, pork shoulder, chicken and brisket, and several national titles were up for grabs.
Judges awarded honours following blind tastings and senior judge Andy Rowe described the standard this year as “sensational”.
The Blitzkrieg BBQ team, led by Joe Hermon, won Grand Champion of Smoke on the Coast and The Smoking Meathouse, led by Brendan Reisima, won the NZ Barbecue Alliance National Championship.
Sadly, local hopefuls Matakana Smoke Eaters, led by Duncan Anderson, turned in some fine meats but failed to place among the finalists.
The winner of the Steak Cookoff Association title was Derrick Paull, who just managed to beat off rival contenders Michael Cook and Steven Cook.
Mr Paull says he was thrilled to see so many of the barbecue whanau enjoying the weekend and soaking up the sun, sea and “thin blue smoke”.
“Nothing makes me happier than to see our friends elevating and encouraging each other to achieve bigger and better things together,” he says.
The Smoke on the Coast event returns to Whangateau Holiday Park on Anzac Day Weekend next year (April 24 and 25).
