On Oct. 20, Knights of Columbus Council 12905 at St. Marguerite D’Youville Church held its first barbeque competition, a family-oriented event with more than 100 visitors attending.

The idea for the event, planned to be the first of many, came from Council 12905 Grand Knight Tom Bourne earlier this year in June. Without delay, a barbeque competition committee was formed with chair Mark Moore and committee members including Karl Spies, Bob Pennington, Gordon Seeler, David Swint, Dave Mauersberg and Bob Ondish. Four meat categories were chosen for competition: beef brisket, pork, pork ribs and chicken. The competition allowed any paying customer to vote on the barbeque of their liking.

A challenge was made to other local Knights of Columbus councils and Catholic churches in Gwinnett County. Knight of Columbus Council 7923 from St John Neumann, Lilburn, answered the challenge with a team named “Cookin’ Rednecks of Council 7923.” With team captain Rick Weber, the group competed in all four categories. St. Marguerite D’Youville answered with its “Holy Smoke” team led by Bourne competing in the chicken and pork categories, the “Swint” team in the beef brisket category and team “Moore” in the pork ribs category.

Prizes for the competition’s winners in first and second place for each category included large 582-square-inch charcoal grills, upright gas grills, tailgate-sized grills and several other grilling accessories.

In addition to great barbeque, competition and fellowship amongst the competing councils, games were set up for children and adults alike.

The first-place winner for the beef brisket category was team “Swint” from St Marguerite D’Youville, with second place going to St. John Neumann’s “Cookin’Rednecks.” “Holy Smoke” took first place in the pork category, while second place went to “Cookin’ Rednecks.” First place in the chicken category was won by “Cookin’ Rednecks,” and second place won by “Holy Smoke.” Lastly, team Moore won first place in the pork ribs category.

Council 12905 plans to continue this family-oriented event next October with the hopes of having even more Knights of Columbus councils within District 10 and Gwinnett County competing.