British BBQ team win title in US

The team of Mathew Shropshall, licensee and chef at the Royal Oak, King's Bromley, Staffordshire, Marston's Pub Company catering development manager Ben Bartlett and master butcher Viv Harvey also proved the outright winner of the "I know Jack … about Grilling" competition and gained a third place rosette in the "Home Cookin' from the Homeland" category. Regarded by barbecue enthusiasts as the most prestigious barbecue competition in the world, this year there were 80 invitational teams including 20 international trios from countries such as Switzerland, Mexico and Australia plus two teams from the UK. Competition categories included pork ribs, pork butt/shoulder, chicken, beef brisket, Jack Daniel's sauce and dessert. Judges blind tasted on appearance, taste and tenderness. The team, which had this year already competed in Kansas City and Canada, gained six maximum sets of scores from the judges at the Jack Daniels event. Team captain Shropshall said they benefited from Harvey's many years within the meat industry. "He played a key role within the team's success with the preparation and presentation of the meats supplied. "The British can now hold their heads high in the world and show they can grill more than a burger. "The experience we have gained from entering top competitions using innovative flavours and barbecue techniques will be of value to any foodservice company." Harvey said: "I felt very proud and privileged to be asked on several occasions to demonstrate meat preparation for CNN BBQ channel and local news teams." Added Bartlett, the first winner of Britain's Best BBQ'er: "We were delighted to represent our country and also experience the barbecue culture of the Deep South in Tennessee." The team was backed by, among others, platinum sponsor British Pepper & Spice, which supplied its Millstone range that featured in the team's rubs and glazes. .