Seasoned paddler Tim Hodgson continued his winning ways Saturday when he edged Jason Doucet and Kam Davies by a canoe length after 28 kilometres on the Yukon River.

Hodgson finished in a time of two hours, 26 minutes and 33 seconds, a mere three seconds faster than Doucet and Davies.

The annual Icebreaker Canoe and Kayak Race began at the control gates at the Yukon River Bridge and ended at the boat launch on Schwatka Lake. Five teams participated.

The team of Pauline Frost and Jody Linklater were just over five minutes off the pace, finishing in 2:31:52.

Race organizer Peter Coates and paddling mate Pat McKenna finished fourth in 2:42:40, while Jessie Gladish and Andrea Curial finished in 3:06:56.

Coates pointed out Hodgson is a dominant paddler and was once a member of the Canada's national team.

The organizer of flat water events for the Whitehorse Canoe and Kayak Club said he likes to paddle and get out there and compete with most of the competition.

As for the animals up front, Coates joked, they can duke it out among themselves.

"Tim is one of those animals in the front.”

Coates was critical of how fast a power boat passed the lead canoeists as they entered Miles Canyon early Saturday afternoon.

Both boats, he said, took on water from the wake created by the power boat.

"Have a little respect,” he suggested.

After five events, Hodgson leads the accumulated club standings, having won all five.

Doucet is in second, Coates and McKenna are tied for third and Joe Bishop is in fourth.

In the two events Bishop has competed, however, he's lost to Hodgson by five seconds, and then 10 seconds after an hour of racing.

Must be one of them animals.