Grant Harrison has written his name into powerboat racing history, claiming a record tenth EC Griffith Cup at Yarrawonga to repel a determined trans-Tasman challenge and keep the world's longest-running perpetual powerboat trophy on Australian soil.
For days before racing began, the Murray River town of Yarrawonga had been buzzing with two questions. Could Harrison, the reigning Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane National Drivers champion, reach the milestone of ten Griffith Cup wins? And could New Zealand's Ken Lupton, who had made the trans-Tasman journey specifically to contest this race aboard GP577, be the man to stop him? The Yarrawonga Chronicle had summed up the anticipation neatly: "Grant Harrison is chasing an elusive 10th EC Griffith Cup, but he'll face a stacked field, including a strong New Zealand challenge. It's shaping up to be one you won't want to miss."
Friday 17 April threw an early complication at the field before racing had even begun. Wind swept across the water, delaying proceedings and keeping a number of teams on shore for the day. The Ken Lupton Racing squad pushed through the conditions regardless, completing two test runs and coming away satisfied. "Ken is happy with the boat," the Hydro Thunder NZ team reported, with attention quickly shifting to the heat draw for Saturday. Hydroplane warmup was confirmed for midday, with Griffith Cup heats set to follow from 2:15pm.
Over on the Yarrawonga lakefront, the Lucas Oil NZ team had their pop-up tent running as a base and welcome point for supporters throughout the weekend. As Friday wound down, the mood in camp was composed and forward-looking. "Now onto the challenge tomorrow and hopefully some new silverware to bring home."
The full field was posted that Friday evening. It read: Titan, Lay It On, Hyperactive, Aussie Connection, Lucas Oil GP577, Always Pumping, Turn It Up, Krusader GP21, Impatient, GP101, The Gator, Melton Toyota GP1, AMS, and Bad Attitude.
Before a single race was run on Saturday, the sport paused to acknowledge those it had lost. A minute of thunder was observed in memory of Greg Babcon, Grant Healy, Ian Harvey, and all the greats of Australian powerboat racing, the engines speaking their own particular tribute.
Once the racing got underway, Lupton and GP577 immediately justified the trans-Tasman billing. The New Zealand entry featured prominently in Heat 2 of the Griffith Cup, and the challenge Lupton brought was exactly as genuine and serious as the crowd had hoped for.
It was not, however, enough.
When the final was complete and the water settled, Grant Harrison aboard Melton Toyota GP1 had done something no driver in the event's history had achieved before him. The Victorian Speed Boat Club delivered the news without embellishment: "He did it!! Congratulations Grant Harrison GP1. 10 x Griffith Cup Winner 2026. The cup stays in Australia." Three further words from the VSBC closed the announcement: "SAY NO MORE."
Harrison, already sitting atop the Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane National Drivers Championship standings, now holds ten Griffith Cup victories, a total without precedent in Australian powerboat racing history.
The EC Griffith Cup carries extraordinary weight as the world's longest-running perpetual powerboat trophy, and the history surrounding this year's event ran as deep as the racing itself. To mark the occasion, the Victorian Speed Boat Club introduced the historic Bronze EC Griffith Cup Unlimited Racing Commemoration Medallion, produced by the late R. (Ron) Simpson Pty Ltd of Ringwood, Victoria. These medallions honour winners from 1910 to 1977, available in both bronze and silver editions, and historically even made the journey to the USA when the Thunder-boat Solo competed abroad. One face of the medallion records winners across that 67-year span, while the other features three legendary VSBC boats: Aggressor, Vulture, and Redline. Only a limited number were ever produced, and this year's medallion belongs to Harrison.
Living history arrived at the foreshore as well. Bob Saniga, who alongside Stan Jones won the 1974 Griffith Cup aboard VS 41, was present throughout the weekend in the VSBC Members Official Legends Tent. Fans could bring their collectors edition of the 2026 Yarrawonga Powerboat Spectacular Program, which features Miss Bud's 50th anniversary of its 1976 EC Griffith Cup win, and have it personally signed by one of the sport's legends.
Away from the trophy ceremonies, a new chapter opened in a family name already tied to this race's history. The Harrison family's third-generation racer, known as "Lake", made their competition debut at the event, with the VSBC extending warm wishes to welcome them to the sport.
Saturday evening brought a different kind of gathering. An exclusive Q&A session at Club Mulwala, running from 6pm to 9pm, brought together three prominent figures from powerboat racing: Ken Lupton, Ricky Howard, and Tate Ramsey. Drawing on careers spent at extreme speed, the trio offered stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes perspectives that made the session a rare opportunity for everyone in the room.
Full results from the 2026 EC Griffith Cup and Round 1 of the Battery World National Drivers Championship at Yarrawonga are expected shortly, with a complete results and wrap-up article to follow once the official timesheets are released.
