Caroline Bridge turned 61 whilst competing in Race Across the World. Not celebrating with cake at home in Hargrave, Suffolk. Racing through Asia, Caroline Bridge son, 21-year-old Thomas Bridge a.k.a. Tom, with her mom, no phones, no bank cards, and £1,140 each to get from China to India. They started the race on 23 April 2025.
They won. Crossed the finish line first at Kanyakumari after 51 days, 14,000 km on June 18, 2025, and probably more arguments than they’d admit to on camera.
Caroline Bridge Race Across The World Started Horribly
Caroline Bridge Race across the World journey began in April 2025 on BBC One. Five teams racing from the Great Wall of China to India’s southern tip. Caroline and Thomas Bridge finished dead last in the first leg. Two days behind everyone else.
“We were absolutely crushed,” Caroline said. “I remember running to the first checkpoint saying ‘every second counts’ only to find out we were two days behind. In leg one all I’d shown Thomas Bridge was that we were massive failures.”
China was brutal. The language barrier is massive. Queuing three hours for train tickets only to be told they wouldn’t accept cash. Caroline felt very down and took it too seriously. Thomas Bridge kept them going.
Then something shifted. They started talking to people, asking for help, and stopped trying to do everything alone. Climbed back up the leaderboard. By the final checkpoint, they were racing for first place.
All four remaining teams finished within three hours of each other. The closest finale in Race Across the World‘s history. But Caroline and Thomas Bridge got there first, opened the book, and saw it was empty. £20,000 split between them.
Caroline Bridge Eventing Life Back Home
Caroline Bridge eventing background helped massively during the race. She’s been horsey her whole life and currently competes at grassroots level in Suffolk Won the 2024 British Eventing BE80 Grassroots League With Her 14-Year-Old Gelding. Really. Finished runner-up at the BE80 national championships.
“Horsey people are generally quite grounded and extremely tough,” she said. “You can put up with being dirty and grubby and you just get on with it. Dignity goes out the window very quickly. You don’t mind getting your hands dirty. And I was quite fit, which probably helped me in the long run.”
That toughness showed during the race. Sleeping rough, working random jobs for food money, dealing with heat and exhaustion. She didn’t complain much. Just kept going.
Eventing requires preparation, fitness, and determination. Same as racing across Asia apparently. “Eventing has got a little bit of the challenge of Race Across the World,” Caroline said. “I’m glad to have eventing because otherwise I would have wanted to go straight back out and travel again!”
Caroline Bridge Husband Stayed Home
Caroline Bridge husband, Gareth Bridge, lived in Suffolk. Gareth passed away on 6 March 2025 after a long battle with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and associated heart failure.
When they filmed the series in late 2024, Caroline told people they were visiting Tom’s godfather in Australia. Awkward when they got back, and people asked about Australia. They’d never been; they had to brush it off quickly.
Caroline and her husband had been together for years. They raised Thomas together in Suffolk. Seems happy keeping things low-key, away from public attention, despite Caroline now being recognisable from television.
Why She Wanted To Do Race Across The World
Caroline spent 21 years focusing on family. Being a mum. Putting everyone else first. At 61, with Thomas Bridge grown up and living his own life, she felt lost. “Other than eventing, I’ve never done something for myself in the world,” she said. “I wanted to feel that I was capable of doing something.”
She also wanted to show Thomas that age doesn’t matter. You can still achieve things at 61. Still push yourself, still succeed. Though after that disastrous first leg, she worried she’d just proved the opposite.
The experience changed her outlook completely. Before the race, she was serious, anxious, and always worrying. Thomas Bridge was carefree, friendly, and happy. “I’m trying to be a little more carefree like my son is,” Caroline said afterwards. “I’m learning to enjoy the simple things in life. Nobody’s watching. Nobody’s judging. Just enjoy it.”
Caroline Bridge Instagram Doesn’t Exist
Caroline Bridge instagram under her own name doesn’t exist. She’s not on social media really. Thomas Bridge has Instagram but keeps it private. They both prefer staying out of the spotlight beyond what Race Across the World required.
After winning, Caroline spoke to various magazines and Horse & Hound, but she’s not doing the celebrity thing. No sponsored posts, no brand deals, no attempts to capitalise on their win beyond enjoying the experience and the prize money.
Thomas’s planning to spend his £10,000 travelling more. Caroline invested hers for now. “It was never about the money,” she said. “I was determined to find my purpose in life again after dedicating the past 21 years to my family.”
Caroline Bridge Net Worth After The Win
Caroline Bridge net worth isn’t public knowledge. She lives in a nice village in Suffolk, competes in eventing, which isn’t cheap, and raised a family. Comfortable but not wealthy probably.
The £10,000 from Race Across the World helps but Caroline invested it rather than spending it. She’s not flashy about money. Still competing at grassroots eventing, still living in the same house, still keeping life normal despite being on telly.
Thomas Bridge is 21, Likely Still Figuring Out His Career. He’s travelled loads already, backpacking through Europe and spending six months in South America before Race Across the World. The prize money gives him freedom to keep exploring.
What Happened After Filming
Filming wrapped in late 2024. They couldn’t tell anyone for months. The show aired from April through June 2025, with Caroline and Thomas Bridge watching themselves on telly, knowing they’d won but unable to tell friends and family.
When the finale aired in June, they held a watch party at Thurston Rugby Club near Bury St Edmunds. Over 50 people turned up. Screams when Caroline and Thomas opened the book and realised they’d won. Proper emotional moment watching it back with everyone who’d supported them.
“We didn’t expect to win,” Caroline said. “But I went into this programme thinking I could and I really wanted to. After the first leg, we thought perhaps we were doomed, but the fact that we climbed back up the ladder was just amazing.”
Thomas Bridge said it was the best experience of his life. “Fifty-one days racing through countries I never thought I’d go to. I’ve never been prouder of my mum. She got me through it.”
The pair grew closer during filming. Always been close, but the race changed things. “Thomas doesn’t just look at me as a mother anymore,” Caroline said. “He sees me as an adult in my own right and I try to do the same with him.”
Though she still tells him to bring his plates out of the bedroom, apparently. Some things don’t change.
What’s Next For Caroline Bridge
At 61, Caroline’s not slowing down. She’s planning another backpacking trip with Thomas. No dad coming along, as he already died in March 2025.
She’s also back competing in eventing. Rode at championships shortly after getting home from Asia. “It’s lovely to be back,” she said. “I’m looking forward to the championship.”
But the race altered her approach to life. More relaxed, less anxious or serious, more adventurous and spontaneous. “Now I’m not so afraid of being lonely,” she told Saga Magazine. “I wanted young people of my generation to know you can still have fun, you can still have adventures.”
Final Words
Caroline Bridge isn’t done yet, won Race Across the World at 61. Planning more adventures. Still competing in eventing, showing that being a mum in your sixties doesn’t mean sitting at home knitting. You can still race across Asia, win £20,000, and prove to yourself and your kids that age is just a number.
Thomas Bridge’s lucky to have her as a mum. And she’s lucky to have him as a son willing to spend 51 days racing across Asia with her. Not every 21-year-old would do that.
Fair play to both of them.
2 Comments
Jo
I think this article is written by AI? There is another Caroline bridge whose husband died. It doesn’t blow either. Please employ real journalists
Harriet Whitmore
Hi Jo, I appreciate you sharing your perspective. The article was researched and written with care, though of course there’s always a chance of human error. In this case, the information about Caroline Bridge’s husband is included — you’ll find it in the fourth paragraph, first few lines:
“Caroline Bridge’s husband, Gareth Bridge, lived in Suffolk. Gareth passed away on 6 March 2025 after a long battle with autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and associated heart failure.”
I hope this clears up the confusion, and thank you again for engaging with the piece.