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For the third straight year, Tim Hodgson found himself in the winner's circle after the Chili and Bean Downriver Race.

The solo canoeist failed to top last year's winning time of one hour, 22 minutes, but did manage to hold off Dan Girouard to cross the finish line first at the Takhini River Bridge.

Hodgson's time of 1:23:08 was his second-best finish in recent years. He previously won with times of 1:28 in 2011 and 1:24 in 2009.

The 10th annual race began at Rotary Peace Park Wednesday night and finished 18.5 kilometres down the Yukon River.

The Chili and Bean Downriver Race is hosted annually by the Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club.

This year's race featured the highest turnout yet with 15 boats and 35 paddlers.

"It's been going since 2003,鈥� explained race co-ordinator Pat McKenna. "It's held in midsummer when everybody's recovered from the Yukon River Quest. It's pretty much the same crew of local racers.鈥�

Fifteen boats of all sizes left Rotary Peace Park in Whitehorse at 6 p.m., with hopes of being the first to the finish line.

As the race title alludes, chili and beans were served up at the finish line, followed by carrot cake. A variety of prizes were also drawn for.

McKenna said many of the paddlers who participated used the race as training for the upcoming Yukon 360.

"This race is meant as another focal point for training for this next race,鈥� said McKenna. "We're trying to keep people going through the summer, as well as get more paddlers out, new recreational paddlers. It's the whole idea of trying to get people hooked on marathon paddling.鈥�

The title 鈥楥hili and Bean' is meant to keep it a recreational race, she added.

The next big race on the calendar is the Yukon 360, which will see intermediate paddlers take on the Dezadeash River, from the Dezadeash Lake Campground to Haines Junction.

Organizer Peter Coates said the unsupported wilderness race is a prerequisite to the Yukon 1,000.

"The theory is we put it on a different river each year,鈥� Coates said. "We were going to put it on the McQuestern, but the logistics are a bit difficult.鈥�

The race will take place Aug. 17 to 19, and registration is still open to interested paddlers via the race website: yukon1000.com/new/y360.php.

"This is a slightly more technical river,鈥� Coates said of the Dezadeash. "People have to have their wits about them.鈥�

RESULTS

1. Tim Hodgson, solo canoe (1:23:08)

2. Dan Girouard, solo canoe (1:23:30)

3. Peter Coates, solo kayak (1:25:38)

4. Gary Seed, solo kayak (1:25:57)

5. Pam and Jim Boyde, mixed canoe (1:26:18)

6. Gillian Farnell and Jeremy Staveley, mixed canoe (1:27:48)

7. Pat McKenna and Mia Lee, women canoe (1:29)

8. Yukon Research Centre Explorers, mixed voyageur (1:30:48)

9. Carmen Gustafson and Karl McEwan, mixed canoe (1:38:33)

10. Anita Holthan and Allison Henderson, women canoe (1:45:16)

11. Ken and Jonah Todd, male canoe (1:53:33)

12. Wendy and Hannah Jickling, women canoe (1:58:33)

13. Emily White and Colleen Segriff, women canoe (2:01:41)

14. Samantha Green and Colette Davis, women canoe (2:06:03)

15. Ken and Beth Mulloy, mixed canoe (2:10:09)