Tugs away on the St. Marys River (8 photos)

16 vessels took part in the 34th annual Great Tugboat Race, held Saturday afternoon on the St. Marys River.

All of the tugs were from the Sault, Ontario and Sault, Michigan area, and raced from the starting point near the old Sault Area Hospital site to the finish line at the Civic Centre, while crowds looked on from the waterfront at Clergue Park and from the Sault, Michigan waterfront.

There were winners in four categories.

"Leila May" won in the Hobby Class Tugs category, with "Iron Maiden" coming in second, "Last Straw" in third.

"Whitney III" won in the Gator Tugs category, followed by "Cobra" and "W.D. McCosh."

"Scottish Thistle" won in the 0-200 Horsepower Tugs category, with "Queensville" coming in second, "Hodgeville" in third.

"Decelles" won in the 200-500 Horsepower Tugs category, followed by "Avery Bay" and "J.D. Graham."

Every year, the Great Tugboat Race raises approximately $20,000 for various children's causes.

These worthy causes include therapeutic horseback riding in Sault, Ontario and Sault, Michigan, therapeutic skiing at Searchmont, Special Olympics in Sault, Ontario and Sault, Michigan, individual requests from families for special bikes, seats, helmets, and travel costs for trips to Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children or other children's hospitals, money or framed prints to benefits that raise money for families and sponsorship of two bowling tournaments in Sault, Ontario and Sault, Michigan for youth with disabilities.

Donations are raised from sales of paraphernalia such as T-shirts and hats at Clergue Park during the race and from pancake breakfasts held onboard the barge "Nostalgia," docked at the Roberta Bondar Marina. 

(PHOTO: "Regan" was one of many vessels which took part in the Great Tugboat Race, June 27, 2015. Darren Taylor/SooToday)