A Daring Move Delivers a Dramatic Semi-Final on THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, Setting Up The Sizzling Season 10 Finale

By BILL HARRIS Special to The Lede The seismic semi-final episode in Season 10 of CTV’s THE AMAZING RACE CANADA came down to a matter of minutes. An intensely close finish at the mat, which was situated at Middle Island Irish Historical Park in Miramichi, N.B., made for one of the most memorable moments in the history of the series. Host Jon Montgomery had some very painful news to deliver to one of the teams, as next week’s highly anticipated season finale is now set. SPOILER ALERT: Details about what happened in the semi-final (available for catch-up on CTV.ca and the CTV app) are going to be discussed. The racers left Eastern Ontario and headed for the Maritimes, where they were tasked with finding a “golden oyster,” hitting water targets with a ball while on a zip line, and competing in an exhausting fire-fighting Face Off. Following a Detour in which the racers had to choose between dancing and detective work, they were presented with a super tough memory challenge. Michael and Tyson quickly determined  that they just weren’t going to be able to succeed. So they made the strategic but risky decision to ditch the challenge, and proceed immediately to the mat, knowing that they would be assessed a two-hour penalty. That’s when the excruciatingly tense waiting game began. Michael and Tyson had to hope that at the end of their two-hour penalty, there would be at least one team still out there racing. Lauren and Nicole arrived at the mat next, to win the leg. Then came Taylor and Katie, followed by Colin and Matt, for second and third place, respectively. Michael and Tyson still waited. But where were Kevin and Gurleen? They had lost some time at the memory challenge, and then made a few wrong turns trying to find the Pit Stop. Tick … tick … tick … The crucial moment finally came when Montgomery called Michael and Tyson over to the mat, telling them that the two hours had passed. They could now be officially checked in, locking them into fourth place, and thus earning the final spot in the finale. When Kevin and Gurleen subsequently arrived, the agony was etched all over their faces as they were given the devastating news that they had been eliminated, and that the margin was “mere minutes.” “How many minutes?” Gurleen asked. “Less than five,” Montgomery replied. As everything sunk in, dating couple and Canadian reality TV royalty Kevin and Gurleen tried to sum up what they were feeling. “I’m so proud of Gurleen, I’m so proud of us, but that’ll hurt … that’ll hurt,” Kevin admitted. “Thank you guys so much for having us. It was the greatest time of our lives, and I mean that. It was really special.” Asked to share her general takeaway, Gurleen replied, “honestly, just how amazing our partnership is, and how much I love him.” But Kevin and Gurleen didn’t completely drop their trademark competitive attitude. As Kevin put it, “those teams are lucky we’re not in the finale, because we would have won this whole thing.” Alas, with Kevin and Gurleen gone, the Season 10 finale of THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, airing next Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET on CTV, CTV.ca, and the CTV app, will feature these four teams: LAUREN & NICOLE Twin sisters and actors from Mississauga, Ont. Current standing: First Legs won so far: Two Scuttlebutt: Arguably the most consistent team in the race, with a bunch of second-place finishes prior to winning two or the past three legs. Their arch-nemeses Kevin and Gurleen are out now, so they should be able to focus 100% on the prize. Pre-finale quote: “We’re proud of the way we’ve been racing – with determination and integrity. We are looking forward to the final leg with our fellow incredible competitors, and ‘Double Trouble’ will, without a doubt, give it our all. We have had a ton of fun, and experienced so much of our amazing country! One last time – let’s SEND IT!”   TAYLOR & KATIE Friends and wrestlers from Calgary and Edmonton, respectively Current standing: Second Legs won so far: Two Scuttlebutt: They faced some difficulties with certain challenges, but they’re one of those special teams that has seemed to gain confidence as the race has continued, rather than running out of steam, as happens so often. They’re very good at pulling each other out of despair, and they’ve become more of a serious threat with each passing episode. Pre-finale quote: “Heading into the finale, our mindset is to stay focused, and give it our all. We’re ready to leave it all on the mat, and to show Canada that strong is beautiful!”   COLIN & MATT Best friends from Mount Pearl, Nfld. Current standing: Third Legs won so far: One Scuttlebutt: Perhaps the most even-tempered team in the race. They’ve disproven the old saying about nice guys always finishing last! Pre-finale quote: “Heading into the final leg we’re going to need to be confident in our navigating and decision-making. Our dreams initially came true when we found out we made it to the starting line, so surviving nine legs of the race, and earning the opportunity to actually race to the finish line, is completely mind-blowing! We want to make our family and friends back home proud, so we have to keep our foot on the gas, and don’t stop! We didn’t come this far after applying for so long just to quit now!”   MICHAEL & TYSON Friends and former pro baseball players from Vancouver Current standing: Fourth Legs won so far: Two Scuttlebutt: In the semi-final, they provided perhaps the funniest moment of the entire season, when they got lost and literally drove into the wrong province, and also the most dramatic event of the season, with their game-changing decision to voluntarily absorb a two-hour penalty. It was gutsy, but it paid off – barely! Pre-finale quote: “This is it brother, head up, shoulders back … it’s time to risk it all.” billharristv@gmail.com @billharris_tv