The Lake Placid, NY - I Love Barbeque Festival

Purple Turtle Wins ILBBQF Grand Championship Title

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. --- When the smoke finally cleared over the Village of Lake Placid , it was the Purple Turtle Catering Company who came away with the title of Lake Placid , NY —I Love Barbeque Festival grand champion. The Norwalk, Conn. team, who finished third last year, competed against a 36 team field that featured barbequers from Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont and Vancouver, Canada.

“There were a lot of great teams out there and it’s really special to win this festival,” said pit boss, Greg Hunter. “This is a great event and everyone should compete here at least once. The organizers run a great event, it’s a great venue and a great town and I want to come back forever.”

Not only did the Purple Turtle Catering Company win the ILBBQF grand championship crown and $1,500.00, but they also came away with the New York State championship title, which will allow them to cook and compete in the Oct. 4-7 28thAnnual American Royal Barbecue Festival in Kansas City , Mo.

Last year’s grand champion, I Smell Smoke of Walden, Mass. , finished in second place, while the Free State Smokers of Laurel, Md., were third.

The second annual ILBBQF began Friday night, June 29, on the Olympic speedskating oval with the High Peaks Ford Midnight Grillin’ Bash won by Lunchmeat of Rockland, Mass., while the Lost Nation Smoke Company of Essex Junction, Vt. took first place in Saturday’s, June 30, the Buck-a-Rib, Peoples Choice Award competition. Visitors to the ILBBQF enjoyed more than 4,000 pork ribs and cast more than 1,500 ballots.

Proceeds from the second annual ILBBQF will once again benefit the Shipman Youth Center of Lake Placid, a not-for-profit community organization, which provides support to area youth, ages 10-18.

The ILBBQF would like to extend its gratitude to its gold level sponsors including the Can-Am Hockey Group, Glazier Food Service Distributors, High Peaks Ford, Parties Unlimited and Jim Cushman Studio, the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) and USA Luge. Official sponsors include A.G. Edwards, Comfort Inn, Court Yard Marriott, Golden Arrow Resort, Ironman USA, Kelly Kennedy Graphics, Kilcoyne Farms, Kiwanis Club, Lake Placid Central School District, Lake Placid/Essex County Visitors Bureau, Lake Placid Hilton Resort, Lake Placid News, Lions Club, NBT Bank, North Country Ministries, Northwood Inn, Placid Productions, Rock 105, the Summit Resort, Town of North Elba, Village of Lake Placid, Vulcan Lead and WSLP-FM 93.3. Friends of the ILBBQF include All Seasons Tents, Ben & Jerry’s, Bob Imbriani of Associated Global Systems, Desperados, Dr. Balestrini, Fruitful Seasons Custom Catering, Harlow Construction, Hirzel Caning, Lisa G’s, Lowe’s, Main St. Association, Bob and Laurie Pokelwaldt, Price Chopper Corp., Smokin’ Dog BBQ, Smokinlicious, John and Sandi Taylor, State Farm, U-Haul Corp., Upstate Auto, UPS Lake Placid and Woodlake Motor Inn.

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Thomas Shipman, a Lake Placid police officer whose life was cut short in 1999, inspired the center, which the festival will benefit. For the past seven years, the Shipman Youth Center has provided a supervised safe and exciting environment and programs where local children can grow and develop as individuals.
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Overall Rankings:

1. Purple Turtle Catering Company ( Norwalk , Conn. ) 664.3714 points

2. I Smell Smoke ( Walden , Mass. ) 662.8374

3. Free State Smokers ( Laurel , Mass. ) 649.7148

4. Q Haven ( Norwich , Conn. ) 643.7142

5. I Que ( Hopkinton , Mass. ) 643.1430

6. Dirty Dick & the Legless Wonders ( Norwell , Mass. ) 641.7142

Chicken:

1. Free State Smokers ( Laurel , Mass. ) 174.8372 points

2. I Smell Smoke ( Walden , Mass. ) 168.3714

3. Beef Rubbers ( Waxahachie , Texas ) 166.8372

4. Q Wanna Bee’s ( Monson , Mass. ) 166.2836

5. Purple Turtle Catering Company ( Norwalk , Mass. ) 165.7142

6. Ma’s Que Crew ( Lake Grove , N.Y. ) 164.000

Pork Ribs:

1. Bastey Boys ( Templeton , Mass. ) 168.3714 points

2. Regal BBQ ( East Amherst , Mass. ) 166.8370

3. The Anchormen (Narragansett, R.I.) 164.3714

4. Purple Turtle Catering Company ( Norwalk , Conn. ) 164.0000

5. Lunchmeat ( Rockland , Mass. ) 164.0000

6. Skin-n-Bones ( Tarpon Springs , Fla. ) 164.0000

Pulled Pork:

1. I Smell Smoke ( Malden , Mass. ) 178.8372 points

2. Philly Pigs ( Lumberton , N.J. ) 168.0000

3. Skin-n-Bones ( Tarpon Springs , Fla. ) 166.8370

4. Yabba Dabb Que ( Bedford , N.H. ) 166.8370

5. Dirty Dick & the Legless Wonders ( Norwell , Mass. ) 163.7142

6. Jack’s Down Home BBQ ( Philadelphia , Pa. ) 163.7140

Brisket:

1. Purple Turtle Catering Company ( Norwalk , Conn. ) 173.1428 points

2. BBQ Bob & the “EH” Team ( Vancouver , Canada ) 171.4288

3. Beef Rubbers ( Waxahachie , Texas ) 169.1428

4. Dirty Dick & the Legless Wonders ( Norwell , Mass. ) 163.7146

5. Q Haven ( Norwich , Conn. ) 163.7144

6. Bastey Boys ( Templeton , Mass. ) 163.7142