This weekend, residents and visitors alike came out for the Washington Noon Rotary Club’s 17^th annual Smoke on the Water Pig Cooking Contest.

The event featured a long list of activities, including what some say is the fastest growing team sport in the world — Dragon Boat racing. Guy Blackwell, who headed up the races, said six teams with 21 participants on each team met at the Washington waterfront to race the boats on the Pamlico River, bringing around 1,800 spectators. Each team paddled against the clock to decide which teams would be racing against each other, and from those heats, or rounds, finalists emerged. Riverside High School, a group of high school and middle school students from Williamston and Winning Crew, a group from Vidant Beaufort Hospital faced off in the championship final, with Riverside winning it all.

Blackwell said he was pleased with the turnout, especially with the number of people watching. The event was held under the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation banner, who received all proceeds from sponsors and participants, Blackwell said.

“People throughout the local community provided sponsorship, services and a great team of volunteers to make this an event to remember,” Blackwell said. “Without their support, we could never have put on such a great show with only three weeks planning.”

The chili cook-off at the event featured eight people trying their hand at making the best chili. The first-place prize of $500 went to Stone Prechtle, a local 15-year-old; second place of $300 went to Kit Campbell, the chief deputy with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office; and third place of $100 went to Leola Dorsey. All proceeds benefitted local charities.

For the coveted barbecue cook-off, the main attraction for the event, eight teams faced off in the 2014 North Carolina Barbecue Association State Championship and 13 faced off for the North Carolina Pork Council’s barbecue cook. Capt. Charlie’s Cooks came out on top in the state championship and the Down Home Cookers took first place in the N.C. Pork Council’s barbecue cook.