TUESDAY - August 29, 2006

MESSAGE FORM "VICKIE" AT ICS HEADQUARTERS

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Please start looking for your COOK qualification packet and judges invitations sometime next week. Once you have them in hand, please fill out the forms and send or fax them back to me using the contact information in the packet. Your help in getting them back to me quickly will be much appreciated! See you all in Omaha!

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Vickie

International Chili Society

PO Box 1027

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693

phone: 949-496-2651

fax: 904-374-4704

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Thistledown Regional

Thistledown Regional

North Randall, OH

Aug. 26

Thistledown Race track was again the setting for the ICS sanctioned Thistledown Regional chili cookoff.

Brent Reitz (Marketing Director) and his able assistant Heather as well as all of the Thistledown staff do an excellent job of organizing the chili cookoff. Many of the staff really get into the judging as well.

These folks make it very accommodating for the chili cooks. The cooks pull right up to their spot on the paddock area were Brent already has table and chairs set up for them and then pull back over to special parking for the cooks.

While cooking chili under cover of the paddock, watching the Thorough breeds run and the betting window right behind you, this could not be a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

All this is done mostly to raise funds for the Thistledown Thorough Bred Charities.

Thanks to Ken Kostal (Chairman) and to Brent for all they do for the chili cooks.

It was a very good day for the cooks and a particularly good day for one of the contestants who was treated very $$$ nicely by the ponies as well as two contestants that were treated very nicely by the judges. You may say it was a D & D day!

Be sure to watch for the dates for next years Thistledown Chili Cookoff. You would not want to miss this one.

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SALSA 10 contestants

9 Judges

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3rd = Brad Berkebile 9 pts (Vermilion, OH.)

2nd = Maureen Barrett 12 pts (Willow Springs, IL.)

1st = Gail Donovan 12 pts (Cincinnati, OH.) won tie break

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VERDE 8 contestants

9 judges

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3rd = Debbie Sinclair 8 pts (Columbus, OH.)

2nd = Brad Berkebile 8 pts (Vermilion, OH.)won tie break

1st = Bill Donovan 16 pts (Cincinnati, OH.)

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CHILI 12 contestants

10 judges

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5th = Jeff Netser 5 pts (Seymour, IN.)

4th = Kitt Hoff 8 pts (Columbus, OH)

3rd = Maureen Barrett 8 pts (Willow Springs, IL.) won tie break

2nd = Tom Hoover 12 pts (Columbus, OH.)

1st = Bill Donovan 13 pts Cincinnati, OH.)

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With Gail's Salsa win and Bill's Verde and Red Chili win, they have both completed their "Hat Tricks".......What a day for the Donovan's

Congratulations to all the contestants. They are all winners

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Mills Creek District

Mills Creek

Golf Course

Sandusky, OH.

Aug. 27

This first time ICS sanctioned District cookoff was held at the Mills Creek Golf Course in Sandusky, OH.

Michelle Spear (Event Director) as well as Ken Kostal (Cookoff Chairman) worked together to put this District Cookoff on, and an outstanding job they did.

This cookoff was to raise funds for "Big Brother's/Big Sister's" of Sandusky, OH.

With rain in the morning and cloudy with some drizzles in the afternoon it did keep some of the people as well as the golfers away. However, it did not dampen the spirit of the chili cooks.

As the cooks arrived, Michelle had a large tent with tables and chairs already set up for the contestants as well as another tent for the judging.

Cooks could pull right up along side of the tent to unload and park right there.

With this new first time District, it shows promises of growing as well as signing up 2 new ICS members

Thanks to Michele, Judy, and Ken Kostal this is a keeper that you would not want to miss next year.

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Salsa 9 contestants

8 judges

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3rd = Richard Chauvin 5 pts (Windsor, ONT. Canada)

2nd = Brad Berkebile 6 pts (Vermilion, OH)

1st = Julie Netser 10 pts (Seymour, IN.)

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VERDE 7 contestants

9 judges

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3rd = Lynn Berkebile 11 pts (Vermilion, OH)

2nd = Debbie Sinclair 13 pts (Columbus, OH.)

1st = Brad Berkebile 15 pts (Vermilion, OH.)

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CHILI 11 contestants

10 judges

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3rd = Maureen Barrett 8 pts (Willow Springs, IL.)

2nd = Lenny Wood 9 pts (New ICS member...first time cook)

1st = Jeff Nester 11 pts (Seymour, IN.)

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With Julie's salsa win, that completes her "Hat Trick" for this cooking year.

Jeff (2005 Verde World's Champion) has completed salsa, verde and one district. Still needs one district to completes his Hat Trick.......And Julie reminded him also!

With Lenny's second place finish among all these "high powered" cooks, he and Karen were very, very excited.

Congratulations to all the contestants. They are all winners.

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