Defending Champion to Compete Against Husband at Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ Championship
Defending Champion to Compete Against Husband at Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ Championship
Mesquite, NV (PRWEB) August 19, 2011
Jennifer and Tommy Duncan are veteran barbeque experts whose love of competition against one another is considered more than just a mildly interesting story.
The couple will travel to the third annual Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ Championship at the CasaBlanca on Labor Day Weekend. They will compete side-by-side in the prestigious $ 40,000 event but they will also be working hard to beat one another.
Jennifer’s colors will be highlighted by her team name Smoked to the Bone. The defending champion and energetic native of Vermont visited Mesquite for the first time in 2010 and proudly returned home with the top money. If there were odds posted for the event in competition, Jennifer would have to be considered an odds-on choice this year since she won Grand Champion honors in the 2010 Mesquite competition.
On the flip side of the couple, the 41 year-old Tommy will be displaying the banner for Whiskey Ranch BBQ, which is also the name of the couple’s mobile catering business in Gilbert. In addition, Tommy will be wearing pink since he lost a bet with his wife during a Tucson event in 2010 and now is attired in the color while living up to his end of losing the bet.
So how did this couple married nearly 14 years ever agree to become competitors after working together for so many years?
“Well, I used to get a little frustrated because Tommy always wanted to try new things and I like to stick with what I know works,” Mrs. Duncan explained. “I’m very meticulous whereas he likes to change.”
Out of nowhere, Tommy broke the news that the team was splitting up in the BBQ competition about two years ago.
“It’s really funny how it happened,” Jennifer explained. “He just surprised me one day by showing me a new name on the side of the trailer. I wanted to know if that was the new name of our team and he responded by telling me that the new name was actually mine for my new team.”
Not one to ever turn down a challenge, Jennifer dug in and accepted the idea. Compared to a brain surgeon by her husband because of her intense style of handling meat, she has caught the BBQ competition by storm in the past year.
Termed in the Kansas City BBQ’s Bullsheet publication as being one of the key “Ladies of Q” on the circuit, Jennifer has proved that BBQ is not just for men anymore.
Proof that Jennifer is serious about her endeavor is the fact that she has won $ 34,000 in prize money not including her sponsorship money. Illustrating her generosity is the fact that she donates much of her proceeds to Arizona charities including the Boys and Girls Clubs; along with several breast cancer teams and police explorer programs in the city where she has proved victorious.
Also proof of Jennifer’s generous nature is the fact that she presented a surprise birthday gift to her husband at the $ 125,000 challenge at the Orleans. Two weeks later, she presented Tommy with his Jambo pit for his birthday.
This year’s event will present a special challenge for the defending champion. The couple has competed against each other as many as 30 times and Jennifer says she has the overall lead, but her husband is confident his time to shine will be this year.
“Her partner Kirwin Blau couldn’t make it this year, so she’s going to have to handle everything on her own,” Tommy explains. “I think this is going to be my year in Mesquite.”
Either way, the Duncans are looking forward to their return to Mesquite, a city of about 20,000 80 miles north of Las Vegas. With the brain surgeon on one side and the circus juggler on the other, you can bet the couple will be photographed countless times especially considering that their performances will also be followed by the couple’s two children, 11 year-old son, Cole, and nine year-old daughter Cassie.
“I thought Mesquite was really nice,” Mrs. Duncan said. “It’s a little hot so we have to make sure to keep ourselves hydrated, but everything including the hotel and the casino were really nice. Everyone was wonderful to deal with, so there was no question that we wanted to return this year. We like staying out of the way on the outskirts anyway.”
Now in its third year, the Smokin’ in Mesquite BBQ competition sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS), offers a bonus to the top finishers from the Best Damn BBQ held on Memorial Day weekend in Boulder City along with the Mesquite event. In addition, a $ 3,000 bonus is provided to the Nevada State Champion who has the best combined scores from both events.
Further information regarding this year’s event that runs through Sept. 4 may be found by visiting http://www.mesquitebbqchampionship.com or by calling Christian Adderson at 888-711-4653, ext. 51; or emailing him at cadderson(at)casablancaresort(dot)com.
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