Clarendon teams represent at Barbecue Challenge

Two cook teams from Clarendon County joined 12 others Saturday from South Carolina and Virginia for the Tom Garrity Firefighters Barbecue Challenge in Sumter. The event is a fundraiser for the Sandhills Chapter of the American Red Cross, said Executive Director Nancy Cataldo, and is named in memory of volunteer firefighter Tom Garrity, one of its founders. “We work so closely with firefighters,” Cataldo said “We were trying to figure out a way to use their competitive natures to raise funds for the victims that we serve. Tom came up with the great idea of having a cook-off that featured only teams made up of firefighters.” Cataldo said teams came from all over the midlands. “This year, we have a team from Virginia,” she said. “So that’s exciting to have it going out of state now. I think our turnout has been just as good as in past years.” Robert Pegram, James Way and Brandon Welch joined together as Red Line BBQ of Clarendon County, sponsored by The Bruner Agency of Summerton and Dr. Phil Latham. "I think this is a good cause," said Way. "Robert is the chef; he's got the sauce. I enjoy helping out because it's a good cause and the money stays in our area." Pegram said he couldn't tell the secrets of his sauce, but said it's tomato and vinegar based. "It's sweet and spicy," he said. "It's the sauce I make at home. We enjoy coming out here. I think it's a worthy cause and we like the competition." Josh Jordan, who cooked with Andrew Stone and Austin Seitz as Ham Right of Clarendon County, said their barbecue was "vinegar-based and smoked over wood chips." "It's always great to give back to the American Red Cross because they work so well with us and they help out the people who need it most," he said. This is the fifth year the Red Cross teamed with Fire Equipment Service, which was formerly known as G&G Metal Fabrication under Garrity’s ownership. Safe Industries owns FES. Cataldo said teams began cooking Friday night. “They have a hog given to them by us,” Cataldo said. “At 9 a.m. Saturday, they had to submit a place to the judges. We had nine judges that will be tasting the barbecue.” David Bagwell was the grand marshal for the judges, Cataldo noted. Winners will be announced later.