by Gina Scarpa

Bates and Anthony kick off the third leg of The Amazing Race with a clue that sends teams to host Phil Keoghan's home country of New Zealand. Connor and Dave have to head to the hospital after last week's injury, so Jessica and John hand over the Express Pass to try to help keep them in the race. Good to see they did end up honoring their word! Despite a torn Achilles tendon, Dave is determined to continue on so he straps on a boot and some crutches so that he and his son can keep racing.

At Faaaaaa International Airport (okay, that was an exaggeration), alliances start solidifying. There's the alliance comprised of Jessica and John, Joey and Meghan, and Beth and Mona. There's also a small alliance of Bates and Anthony and Caroline and Jen though that one seems more like flirtation than anything else. While transferring from Auckland to Chistchurch, New Zealand, Pam and Winnie are able to get on the first flight, jumping from last to first! Chuck and Wynona make the mistake of booking their flight over the phone and end up alone and in last, hours behind some of the other teams.

Once in Chistchurch, teams head to Rakaia River Gorge where Dave and Connor book the first jet boat tour for the following morning. Oh, Dave is MOVING on those crutches! Pam and Winnie drop to 5th, and Bates and Anthony, who started the leg in first, are now 8th. At the end of the tour, teams face a Detour and the choices are Rev It Up or Reel It In. In Rev It Up, teams have to race a car through a course in 83 seconds and in Reel It In, they must each catch a fish at least a foot long.

It doesn't take long for Dave and Connor to decide to use the Express Pass and skip the Detour to head to the next clue, in the hopes of finishing this leg in first. Meanwhile, Jessica and John complete Rev It Up first, followed by Joey and Meghan, and head to Mt. Hutt Station. Only Chuck and Wynona are brave enough to tackle the fishing challenge, but are still in last.

At Mt. Hutt Station, teams face a Road Block, where one team member has to complete a Shemozzle Race, an obstacle course in New Zealand. To make things more difficult and slightly crazy, the person has to be covered in molasses and feathers, and collect chicken eggs along the way. Max and Katie and Bates and Anthony get lost on their way there and fall to the bottom of the pack.  Of course, Connor breezes right through the course, and he and his dad head to Terrace Downs first, the pit stop for this leg.

Connor and Dave check in first and win a trip to Thailand.  Unfortunately for them, this leg is still going... are they going to be able to continue?  We'll have to wait until next week to find out!

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

(Image courtesy of CBS)

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