This year’s United Pipe Clubs of America (UPCA) US National Champion and Overall Champion is Mike “Doc” Garr.
Doc is president of the Pocono Intermountain Pipe Enthusiasts (PIPE) in Wilkes Barre, PA. He has been competing nationally and internationally since 2002 and was the Northeast Regional Champion in 2007 and 2008 and the Southeast Regional Champion in 2009.
Manduela is this years Women’s Champion, repeating her win from 2010. She is well know as a premier Danish pipe carver. Her pipes reflect her distinctive style and appreciation of clean lines.
First Out was Kevin Godbee. Well known for his website and online magazine PipesMagazine.com. Kevin is a devoted pipe enthusiast and supporter of pipe clubs as a means to promote the “Brotherhood of the Briar”. He is especially excited about educating those new to pipe smoking and expanding their knowledge of pipes and tobacco.
The pipe for this year’s contest was by Antoine Grenard of Chacom, St. Claude, France. The tobacco was Dunhill Early Morning Pipe. All contestants were very complimentary of the pipe and tobacco, considering them some of the best used in the American competitions.
This year’s contest consisted of 50 pipe smokers from the United States, Canada, Belgium, Great Britain, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, and France. Thirteen UPCA clubs were represented in the contest. These contests affirm the bonds of friendship among pipe smokers throughout the world.
