Heavy rain was unable to keep 12 paddling teams off the Yukon River Tuesday night.

The 11th annual Chili and Bean Downriver Race began under dark rain clouds at Rotary Peace Park, but from there competitors paddled 18.5 kilometres into the sunset en route to the finish line at the Takhini River Bridge.

Stephen Mooney and Dominic Alford were the first to reach the bridge, where they were treated to – as the race’s name suggests – all-you-can-eat chili.

The duo finished in 1:23:57, just ahead of runner-up paddlers Jim and Pam Boyde.

“It’s a fun race,” said Mooney. “It’s all about the food at the end. (Organizer) Pat McKenna cooks two types of chili ... and her moose-caribou chili was awesome. The vegetarian chili was her great- great-grandmother’s recipe. You can’t beat it.

“Winning isn’t a part of that race. No one gets anything for winning. You just get your name in a draw and everyone gets equal chances.”

This year, Mooney’s “victim” was Alford, who decided last minute to join him for the route down the quick-flowing Yukon River.

“It was amazing,” said Mooney. “It was raining as we were taking the boats off and registering and then it drizzled and stopped. It didn’t rain a drop for the next four hours, so it was perfect. It was a great paddling night.”

Hot on the leaders’ tails were the Boydes, who recently finished the Yukon River Quest third overall in a voyageur canoe.

The two finished less than 30 seconds behind the leaders, in 1:24:20.

“It was great having them there, because it made us work,” Pam Boyde said of Mooney and Alford.

“It’s a very friendly, fun event.

“It was a good run, and this time the water was moving, unlike the River Quest.”

“They kept the heat on, they really did,” said Mooney. “Every corner, I was kind of looking back. They were trying to find faster water ... But we managed to keep ahead of them.”

Despite coming in second, Boyde said she got the prize of the night – a silver paddle pendant donated by Paddlers Abreast member Cheryl Rivest.

“I think I got the best prize in that draw,” Boyde chuckled. “If that’s what you get for second, I’m going for second every time.”

Coming in third were the pairing of McKenna and Mia Lee, in 30:59.

Paddlers Abreast finished fourth in a voyageur canoe with a time of 1:39:39.

In the boat were Claire Desmarais, Jane Haydock, Anne Jessup, Michelle Harper, Johanne Lalonde, Jill Murdoch and Rivest.

Bringing up the rear and placing 12th with a time of 2:22:33 was solo kayaker John Wright.

The race is held annually by the Yukon Canoe and Kayak Club.

The afternoon rain nearly caused the race’s cancellation said McKenna, the event’s longtime organizer.

“The rain held off. It was pretty ominous-looking but at least we were able to have the event,” she said. “The river was calm and lovely.”