Despite a morning of rain, sleet and remnants of snow, the 60th annual River Rat Race started right on time at 1 p.m. on Saturday, sending 194 canoes down the Millers River from Athol to Orange.

The annual pre-race parade was canceled due to the weather, but guest performers the Atholl Scottish Highlanders still brought music to the scene, playing along the river’s edge and lifting everyone’s spirits.

Hundreds of spectators and their umbrellas crowded the bridge on South Main Street in Athol to watch the race begin. It started with a dramatic scene as the boats took off, with some colliding and one tipping over, as they traversed the 5.2 miles from the Alan E. Rich Environmental Park in Athol to Riverfront Park in Orange.

Patrick Madden and Adam Gelinas, in canoe No. 101, were the first-place winners this year, crossing the finish line at 1:35 p.m. after battling their way through a chaotic start.

“We started in spot 101. They were 11. We had to close 90 spots,” Madden said, referring to second-place finishers Brent Lyesiuk and John Berry, who finished just one minute behind. “We only caught them right here,” he added, gesturing toward the final stretch.

“They’re (Lyesiuk and Berry) former champs,” added Gelinas. “They’ve won more than we have.”

Following Lyesiuk and Berry were Joe Schlimmer and Francis Hiscox in third at 1:37 p.m. River Robertson and Shane MacDowell came in fourth, and Dylan Kirk and Greg Lowry were fifth, all crossing at roughly the same time.

Many racers, like Matthew and Nathan Payne from central Massachusetts, are locals who grew up coming to the event.

“This is my 24th race,” Matthew Payne said.

Others came from out of state, like Joe Schlimmer from Ithaca, New York.

“It’s tradition for me,” Schlimmer said. “I’ve done somewhere around 10 races.”

From Connecticut, Ted Kenyon and his son Theo paddled together for the first time.

“We started at the back of the pack in spot 189, and the first mile or two was pretty tough,” Kenyon said.

“It was pretty chaotic. We got T-boned by someone, but not too hard,” Theo added.

Not every racer was focused on finishing first. For others, the goal was simply staying upright.

“My favorite part was not getting wet,” said Adam Orth, a veteran racer who was participating in his 13th River Rat Race.

Eli Jameson, who was in canoe No. 120 with Lucas Savoy agreed, saying, “Staying upright was the best part.”

“You always enjoy the chaos,” Jameson added. “The start always makes it challenging. No matter what number you get, you never know where you’re going to end up.”

Pam Fitzgerald and Vicky Cummings, who raced in canoe No. 48, won the women’s class this year.

“We’re really happy because Lorianne from Eye Candy Beauty Bar sponsored us. She’s awesome and we hope everyone checks it out,” Cummings said.

“Everybody’s so pleasant here, and the energy is just so fun,” Fitzgerald added.

Toasty Buns, one of the few food vendors brave enough to stay set up in the dismal weather, offered warmth with hot dogs.

“I come to the Rat Race often, and the best part about it is the people. I look forward to seeing who comes out,” said owner Ryan Grandmont.

The Athol Lions Club took over organizing duties for the River Rat Race more than 30 years ago. Jim McIntosh, a longtime member and key figure behind the scenes, reflected on its roots.

“The race itself started as a barroom bet and there were only 12 canoes in the first race,” he said. When the original organizers were ready to call it quits, “Dave Flint got word of that and came to the club and asked if we wanted to take over, which we did, and have kept alive ever since”

As part of the 60th anniversary celebrations, Megan Lahti and Ben Church, who were the 60th canoe to register online, received two gift cards, marking the milestone. One of the most festive teams, two women dressed as fairies, won the first President’s Award for their creative boat and costumes. The award was given out by King Lion Kim Edmond.

For the Athol Lions Club, the River Rat Race is also about giving back to the community. This year the Lions Club is donating all proceeds from the race to help send two girls to The Barton Center for Diabetes Education.

“The Lions Club does a lot of really good stuff,” said Race Director Gail Spring, “and it’s important that we get that out there.”