A couple who won in the Race Across the World competition are using their winnings to fund a “gap decade” of travel during their retirement.
Tony Teasdale, 67, and his wife Elaine, also 67, were crowned winners of the first season of Race Across the World in 2019. The adventurous pair journeyed through 21 countries on a tight budget of just £1,329, outpacing eight other competitors to be the first to reach the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore – securing a prize of £20k.
Despite being the oldest duo on the show, the former PE teachers surprised even themselves with their victory, which they say has given them the confidence to continue travelling in their later years. Their epic 50-day race covered 12,000 miles from Greenwich, London, to Singapore, marking the couple’s first adventure since retiring five years prior.
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Although their home is in Beadlam, North Yorkshire, the couple have since visited Antarctica, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Patagonia, and New Zealand following their Race Across the World triumph. Currently enjoying a skiing trip in Les Arcs, France, with family, Tony said: “We always said we would have a gap decade once we retired, and we’re trying to do that.”
“Because we had just nicely retired when we went on Race Across the World we hadn’t really settled into any pattern. Since the show, the new places we have visited have been Antarctic, South America, New Zealand, and South Africa.”
“If there is any place you want to go on this planet go to Antarctica it was just something else. We were able to go out onto the peninsula, the wildlife and the glaciers were unbelievable.”
“Because of Race Across the World we rough it, we stay in youth hostels, we don’t do it plush. If we go somewhere, we go for two or three months and indulge ourselves in the culture, which we couldn’t really do when we were racing across the world.”
“You can lose confidence the older you get, but because of our experience and realising how wonderful and generous people are, you feel as if you can go anywhere.”
Tony says the key to winning the show was a combination of trust and luck. He said: “I think the travel gods were on our side on the last two legs.”
“We were really fortunate to have some really good connections after we left China. I think because we had done a fair bit of travelling in Asia, we were able to do well there.”
“We also saved a lot of money for the end.”
Tony and Elaine have been married for 43 years and Tony believes their strong relationship was a huge asset during the race.
“If you’re married, you know each other so well, there’s a lot of telepathy, which is a big plus. You’re on the same wavelength,” he said. “We both had the same reaction to most of the countries.”
“We had a really bad time in Northern China because the people were very unhappy, it was hard to see how they were treating each other. We found China really hard, which is why we were two days behind at one point.”
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“But we loved Uzbekistan because the people were so lovely. When we were stranded there was a guy who emptied his entire truck with all his gear in it in the middle of the Red Desert and drove us for 200 miles.”
“We sang Beatles songs all the way, and when we couldn’t get on a train, he paid for a taxi to take us to the next city.”
Tony’s main advice for the upcoming cast is to ‘trust people’. He said: “You’ve got to be yourself and be prepared for one hell of a rollercoaster. Trust in people is also key.”
“It was really hard to think any further than a day ahead because you didn’t have a clue what was in store – you never knew what was in front of you.”
After their victory, the couple used some of the prize money to purchase electric bikes to ride around the dirt tracks near their home in North Yorkshire. “Obviously, winning was great, but what you remember are the people you meet and the journey you went on – that’s everything,” Tony said.
“It’s really hard, and none of us would have done what we did if it hadn’t been for the kindness of strangers.[“
Despite the challenging journey, both Tony and Elaine would participate in the race again without hesitation.
Tony said: “We are hoping that once they’ve had five or six races, there will be a shoot out with all the winners.”
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