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DAWSON鈥圕ITY鈥堚�� From Whitehorse to Dawson, tandem kayak duo Dave Hutchison and Bob Ross stayed in the lead in this year鈥檚 Yukon River Quest.

The pair, known by the team name 鈥淭ime to GO!,鈥� were the first to paddle across the finish line in Dawson on Friday evening, with a winning time of 44:51:07.

Hutchison came in second overall at last year鈥檚 race, a feat that motivated Ross to call him up and ask him to try the tandem category this year.

Ross was a River Quest finisher in 2012, but had to cut his race short in 2013 due to a shoulder injury.

With decades of whitewater experience under Hutchison鈥檚 belt, Ross thought the Montana native would make the perfect yang to his yin 鈥� more specifically, Ross鈥� strength and endurance.

At the post-race awards and banquet Sunday, the two recounted the difficulties of the last stretch of the river, which had 鈥渉orrendous winds鈥� for about 50 to 60 kilometres.

鈥淚t was like if we stopped paddling, we were never going to get here,鈥� Hutchison recalled.

But they did鈥攁nd they will savour both the win and the memories from this year鈥檚 race.

鈥淵ou definitely learn a lot about yourself,鈥濃�圧oss told the Star. 鈥淎t some point during the race, you鈥檙e going to have to go and dig and get something that鈥檚 going to keep you competitive.鈥�

Following the leading team into Dawson about an hour later was Ontario tandem canoe paddlers Jeff Brainard and Gaetan Plourde.

It was another partnership that came as a result of last year鈥檚 race, which they both completed in the solo category.

Plourde gave Brainard some grapes after he had lost all of his food on a battle through a stormy Lake Laberge and a partnership was struck.

Their team name, 鈥淧erfect Storm,鈥� seemed to parallel conditions seen during this year鈥檚 race鈥� a beautifully glassy Lake Laberge, smoke from nearby forest fires, warm temperatures, and low water levels.

It appeared that one or all of these factors contributed to the overall slower race times during the 715-kilometre race.

Coming in third was British Columbia鈥檚 team 鈥淏ald and Sexy,鈥� placing second in the men鈥檚 tandem kayak category.

In the voyageur category, first place went to team 鈥�3-2-1-Go,鈥� a team of women from all over North America which River Quest media director Jeff Brady said had challenged all of the other voyageur teams from the beginning of the race.

The first solo paddler to make it to Dawson was Martin Rother, 鈥渢he northshore paddler,鈥� finishing in 49-and-a-half hours.

When asked if the winners would come back next year for a victory lap, Hutchison laughed and said he wouldn鈥檛 rule it out.

鈥淵ou have to wait until the pain dissipates I think and forget about how painful it is,鈥� Ross added.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing race, something that the memories from which you鈥檒l keep for a long long time.鈥�

Forty-four teams reached Dawson City on the weekend. A total of 58 were registered for this year鈥檚 race.