Pictured: Grand Champion of the Ropin’ at the River BBQ Cook Off Ira Green with Flying G Barbecue. He was also the 2nd place winner of the chicken halves category and 2nd place in the brisket category. JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
This past weekend, Pleasanton Parks and Recreation and the City of Pleasanton hosted their first ever Ropin’ at the River event. The event was free and full of western family-fun including western shows, contests, BBQ cook off, farmer’s market shopping, petting zoo, pony rides, educational presentations and much more.
The BBQ Cook Off was held May 7-8, and it was an International Bar-BQue Cookers Association (IBCA) certified event. There were 37 teams from across the state that came to compete. Contestants competed in three categories: brisket, pork spareribs and chicken halves. Justin Menchaca, Pleasanton Parks and Recreation coordinator of the BBQ Cook Off, stated, “We kept it real simple, since it was our first year. Usually at IBCA events or BBQ cook offs, they do like chili or beans or chef’s choice. What we wanted to do is start basic, just brisket, ribs and chicken. Just those three categories, just to test the waters to see how we were going to do this year, and I feel like we are ready to add more categories.”
Pictured: 3rd place winner in the pork spareribs category, Joe Carrasco with Smokin’ Flaming Pits JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
The overall grand champion was Flying G Barbecue, who left the competition with $1,000. The reserve grand champion was Kanned Heat, who left the competition with a $500 check.
First place for each category received $300, second place for each category received $200 and third place for each category received $100. In addition to the payouts, buckles were given to the grand champion, reserve grand champion and first place in each category. The buckles were sponsored by Sureco Metal Building Construction.
Pork spareribs winners are as follows: 1st Place Smokin’ 830’s, 2nd place Get Lit and 3rd place Smokey’s Flaming Pits.
Chicken halves winners are as follows: 1st place Crossed Rifles BBQ, 2nd place Flying G Barbecue and 3rd place Out of Fire Cookers.
Brisket winners are as follows: 1st place CSM Cooking, 2nd place Flying G Barbecue and 3rd place Puro Vida.
Menchaca also sent a huge thank you to the sponsors, IBCA, BBQ judges and anyone who has donated to put on this event. He also wanted to thank the teams that competed and the Parks and Rec team that helped with all the behind-the-scenes work.
Pictured: Kit Polk with team Kanned Heat was the Ropin’ at the River BBQ Cook off Reserve Grand Champion JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Pictured: 3rd place winner in the chicken halves category, Randy Robles with Out of Fire Cookers JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Pictured: 1st place winner in the pork spareribs category, Andrew Garcia with Smokin 830’s JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Pictured: 1st place winner in the chicken halves category, Chris Davis with Crossed Rifles BBQ JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Pictured: 2nd place winners in the pork spareribs category, Amber Forrest and the Get Lit team JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Pictured: The 3rd place winner in the brisket category, Jason Reyes with Puro Vida JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Pictured: 1st place winner in the brisket category, Jorge Flores with CSM Cooking JOE DAVID CORDOVA | PLEASANTON EXPRESS