Last weekend, the Manawatu River delivered a whole heap of horsepower. The 54th Manawatu Power Boat Club Gold Cup Regatta unfolded at Whirokino on 14 and 15 February 2026, with river racing at full noise.
Podium placings across the weekend paint a clear picture of how the racing played out.
At the centre of it all was Brendon Cornes in Total Chaos.
Cornsey finally gets his Gold Cup
After 15 years of turning up to the Gold Cup, Brendon Cornes can now say his name is etched on it. Total Chaos secured the 54th Gold Cup title in a hard fought final that kept the riverbank crowd on edge.
Craig Ward brought Sundance Kid home in second for the Ward Racing Team. Andrea Robinson, racing Full Circle, rounded out the podium in third. Steve Mathieson in Midnight claimed fourth, with Luke Dunlop in Snaggletooth fifth.
It was a result that reflected both persistence and pace. Cornes has long been a regular contender. This time, he closed it out.
The friendly rivalry between tunnel hull boats and the big V8s added another layer. As one commentator put it, “It only takes one tunnel to win it.” Tunnel hull boats generate lift through a central air cavity between twin sponsons, allowing them to ride high and fast on the surface.
Cornes was quick to reference that rivalry. He noted he had been the last to lose to a V8, against Kent Dunlop, and added it was “good to keep them out.”
When asked about falling short at Wanganui’s King of the River but taking the Gold Cup in 2026, his response was simple. “Happy to take this one.”
Andrea Robinson makes her mark
Andrea Robinson’s third place in Full Circle was one of the weekend’s standout stories. It was her first Gold Cup start.
To step onto the podium in that field speaks volumes. When asked about the result, she said, “It’s awesome.” She also reflected on family history, noting her son had finished third in the Gold Cup a few years ago.
Robinson described her on water duel with Craig Ward as a good battle and was pleased to see Ward back out racing.
Her focus now shifts to the nationals in Rotorua, where the King of the Lake title awaits. “We will see how it goes,” she said when asked about that next challenge.
Strong fields across the programme
The Gold Cup was only part of a stacked weekend.
In the North Island Formula 3 title race, open to hydros up to 1650cc, outboards up to 115 hp and flatties up to 2000cc, Dan Hall dominated in Iron Maiden. Blair Murray finished second in On The Edge, with Matty Hall third in Cost a lott.
The REDHOT Marine Racing Clubman Series Round 6 podium saw White Lightning, driven by Andrew Speedie, take the win. Ross Legend in Legend was second, and Ben Lee in Zippy third.
In the REDHOT Marine Racing Formula V Series Round 3, Redemption, driven by Owen Wilson, shared top honours with Snaggletooth, driven by Luke Mason, in a tied first. Scott Watson in Bok Choy completed the podium.
The Bob Dunlop Memorial Cup for flatties and skiffs went to Typhoon, driven by Simon Watkins, known as Bricky. Cody Wotton in Fast Forward finished second, and Andrea Robinson in Full Circle third. Watkins was widely congratulated for his drive.
The Sally Nagel Memorial Cup for inboards up to 3000cc saw Dan Hall again on top in Iron Maiden. Raymond Forsythe in Valhalla took second, and Steve Mathieson in Ambush third.
Robinson also claimed victory in the V8 race during the regatta, adding another highlight to her weekend.
River racing at full noise
From big V8 flatties to tight, technical tunnel hulls, Whirokino once again delivered a full spectrum of New Zealand river powerboat racing.
With official results still to be published, the stories are clear. A long time contender finally lifting the Cup. A first time Gold Cup starter stepping onto the podium.
On a weekend when high tech foiling catamarans demanded headlines elsewhere, the Manawatu River reminded everyone that three hard laps on a flowing river still provide some of the country’s most gripping racing.
