Flynn crowned king of the tongs in junior barbecue competition
FLYNN HOGSTON was so excited he started shaking when he took the title of Junior Pitmaster in the Smokin The Valley Brisket Challenge.
Central Coast
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IT IS the “low and slow” barbecue trend sweeping the nation and a Central Coast junior has been crowned king of the kids.
Flynn Hogston has taken out the Australasian Barbecue Alliance’s (ABA) first ever “Junior Pitmaster” competition.
The 11-year-old from East Gosford beat 10 other competitors aged between six and 14 in the Smokin The Valley Brisket Challenge at Wingham on the state’s mid-north coast last month.
The cook-off was the first kids barbecue competition sanctioned by ABA and was held in conjunction with round 28 of the Barbeques Galore Australian Barbecue Championship.
The championship came to the Coast at the weekend when the Dam Hotel hosted the inaugural
BBQ, Beef & Beer Festival.
Proud dad Joel Hogston said since its inception in 2014 the ABA championships have grown exponentially with more than 300 teams registered across the country.
And the prizemoney has followed with $9000 up for grabs at the weekend with some rounds offering up to $40,000.
“It’s all low and slow American style barbecuing,” he said.
Mr Hogston said participants competed in teams to prepare entries in four or five categories such as brisket, pork, pork ribs, lamb and chicken.
He said cooking usually started at 5pm and continued overnight with judging taking part around midday the following day.
Besides the allure of slow cooked meats, Mr Hogston said participants enjoyed the social nature of working together and the “bragging rights” from winning trophies.
The teams have to prepare a “tasting box” for each category and are judged on taste, appearance and texture.
Usually teams have to bring their own meats, rubbing sauces, seasonings and even their own barbecues, which range from traditional kettle-style BBQs through to custom made smokers wheeled in on large box trailers.
Mr Hogston, the head pitmaster of the Weber Kettle Club BBQ Team Australia, said the junior competition was a little different with the children provided everything they needed to cook up a storm.
“I can’t believe I just won, I’m still shaking,” Flynn said after hearing his name being read out.
His dad said it turned out to be quite the windfall.
“Before the presentation we — all five members of our team — said to Flynn ‘if you win we will each match the prize money’ which was $50, so he ended up with $300 for winning, which he made sure we all coughed up before the end of the event,” he said.