By Audrey Evans and Jim Sewell

It was the first Georgia Barbecue Association (GBA) contest outside the state of Georgia. They branched out, opening the doors and went to Fernandina Beach, Florida for the First Annual Goin’ Coastal BBQ Cookoff. On June 10, 2012 thirty teams pulled into central park and began smokin’ to see who would take the prize home.

Pitmaster Larry Johns of L J Smokin’ captured his first Grand Championship at GBA Goin’ Coastal in Fernandina Beach, FL. The team’s rib fi nals entry was judged the best of the day just 0.3 of a point ahead of the rib entry by D.W.’s Kountry Cookers. D.W.’s Kountry Cookers continued their climb to the top of the GBA Team of the Year standings by taking home the Reserve Grand Championship. D.W.’s Kountry Cookers is headed by Mr. Ernie and Ms. Faye Wright, with their team of boys behind them - Donald, Ronald and Jackie aka Scooter and team mate Chris Faulk.

 L J Smokin’ won the Pork Loin Category with Legal Smoke BBQ as runner up and Smokin’ the Good Stuff in third place. It went to the second tiebreaker to award 4th place to Team Two Eggheads with Rib Ranch taking 5th place.

In Pulled Pork, Bethel Smokers took first place honors. D.W.’s Kountry Cookers came in 2nd place. Third place went to Sunset Smokers, Travis and Montae Webb. Bubba Grills and Legal Smoke BBQ finished in 4th & 5th respectively.

L J Smokin’s Ribs topped the field just ahead of D.W’s Kountry Cookers. Bubba Grills came in third. Legal Smoke BBQ took 4th place to give Pitmaster Nathan Deaton a top 5 fi nish in all three categories. Smokin’ 42 BBQ rounded out the top 5.

Left: Larry Johns, head cook of LJʼs Smokinʼ accepts his prizes for win Grand Champion. Larry also took home first place ribs and pork loin.  Right: D.W.ʼs Kountry Cookers took home Reserve Grand Champion at the G.B.A. Goinʼ Coastal event. Pictured Left to Right are Event Organizer Jay Robertson, Donald Wright, Ronald Wright, Pam Nelms (GBA Secretary), Jackie Wright and Chris Faulk.

PHOTOS BY AUDREY EVANS