The Amazing Race 35 Recap – Week 11 Live Blog and Results
Tonight’s episode of The Amazing Race delivered a tense, travel-packed leg that brought the remaining teams to Dublin, Ireland. With only four teams left, this eleventh leg determined which three duos would advance to the final for a chance at the $1,000,000 prize. All teams boarded the same flight, starting the leg on equal footing and setting the stage for tight competition across a series of physical and mental challenges anchored in Irish culture.
The leg opened with a coastal task at Castle Rock School: each team had to drive themselves to the shoreline, enter cold water, and retrieve a clue from a buoy. Navigation quickly became a decisive factor. Steve & Anna Leigh took a wrong turn early and fell behind, while Rob & Corey, Joel & Garrett, and Greg & John reached the site without issue. After braving the frigid surf and claiming their clues, the teams learned their next destination: Dublin’s historic Gaiety Theatre.
At the Gaiety Theatre, the teams faced an Irish-themed Roadblock. One member had to perform a 30-second Riverdance routine before receiving the following clue. Rob & Corey arrived first and discovered that Corey would be doing the dance. The leg tightened as teams converged: Joel & Garrett, Steve & Anna Leigh, and Greg & John all reached the theatre in quick succession. Mistaken turns and stops for directions shuffled positions, keeping the race close.
A close race
The Riverdance Roadblock proved challenging and made for dramatic back-and-forth. Corey stumbled on his first attempt but recovered on the second, earning his team the next clue and a lead to Croke Park. John also required two tries but succeeded. Meanwhile Joel and Steve struggled longer; Steve finally passed on his eighth attempt, enabling him and Anna Leigh to proceed. Joel, undeterred, pushed through on his eighth or ninth attempt and secured his team’s passage. By the time each duo finished the dance, the field remained tightly packed and the gap between teams was narrow.
At Croke Park, another Roadblock awaited: competitors had to learn the basics of hurling, an iconic Irish stick-and-ball sport, and score a goal to receive their next clue. Corey completed this challenge first, demonstrating strong composure under pressure. Rob & Corey then received their next assignment, which directed them to Toner’s Pub to recite passages from James Joyce—an intellectual task that contrasted with the athletic demands of the earlier legs.
After hurling and James Joyce, Team #1 arrives
Greg & John reached Croke Park next, and Greg handled the hurling Roadblock, earning them the clue to proceed. Navigation issues continued to impact Steve & Anna Leigh, who lost time asking for directions, allowing Joel & Garrett to arrive at Croke Park and complete the hurling task before them. With the athletic portions completed, teams shifted to memorization at Toner’s Pub.
At Toner’s, Rob & Corey successfully recited the James Joyce passages and headed straight for the Pit Stop at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. Their smooth transition from physical challenges to the literary task paid off: they reached Phil first. Rob & Corey were declared Team #1 and celebrated an additional prize—a trip to Fiji—after their strong performance across the leg’s varied challenges. Greg & John followed, mastering the Joyce recitation and arriving at the cathedral as Team #2.
A team is eliminated
Joel & Garrett initially faltered on their first attempt at the Joyce recitation but corrected it on the second try and continued toward the Pit Stop. Steve & Anna Leigh, hampered by earlier navigation errors, eventually reached the pub and successfully completed the task on their first try there. Despite that recovery, their earlier delays left them trailing.
The final sprint to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral played out with some editing that made the finish appear closer than it may have been, but the official results were clear: Joel & Garrett arrived third and were announced as Team #3. Steve & Anna Leigh arrived last and were eliminated from the race. Though disappointed, Anna Leigh described the experience as the adventure of a lifetime, and Steve expressed gratitude for having run the race with her.
Episode Summary
1st place: Rob & Corey
2nd place: Greg & John
3rd place: Joel & Garrett
Eliminated: Steve & Anna Leigh
This leg balanced physical demands, local cultural experiences, and a literary challenge rooted in Dublin’s rich history. Rob & Corey took the win and a trip to Fiji, while Steve & Anna Leigh’s journey concluded in Ireland. Tune in next week to see how the remaining teams tackle their path to the final and vie for the grand prize.