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.
The build-up
The Murray River town of Yarrawonga had been buzzing for days before the first throttle opened. At the centre of it all was a single question: could Grant Harrison, already the reigning Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane National Drivers champion, claim an unprecedented tenth Griffith Cup? And could New Zealand’s Ken Lupton and GP577, making the journey across the Tasman specifically for this race, stop him?
The Yarrawonga Chronicle framed it plainly: “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.”
Wind, prep, and two test runs
Friday 17 April opened with an unwelcome guest: wind. It delayed the start of proceedings and kept several teams off the water entirely.
For the Ken Lupton Racing squad, the wind wasn’t going to stop them getting at least something done. The New Zealand team managed two test runs during the day, and Lupton came away satisfied. “Ken is happy with the boat,” the Hydro Thunder NZ team reported, before heading off to check the heat draws for Saturday. With Hydro warmup confirmed for midday and the Griffith Cup heats starting at 2:15pm, the focus turned entirely to Saturday.
The Lucas Oil NZ team, whose pop-up tent was set up right on the Yarrawonga lakefront welcoming supporters throughout the weekend, wrapped up Friday with quiet confidence. “Now onto the challenge tomorrow and hopefully some new silverware to bring home.”
The heat draw, posted Friday evening, confirmed the full field: 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.
On Saturday, history was made
Saturday’s racing unfolded against a backdrop of ceremony and weight. Before the heats began, a minute of thunder was observed in memory of Greg Babcon, Grant Healy, Ian Harvey, and all the greats of Australian powerboat racing, the roar of engines substituting for silence in the way only this sport can manage.
Then the racing began in earnest.
Ken Lupton and GP577 made their presence felt through the heats. Heat 2 of the Griffith Cup featured the New Zealand boat prominently, and Lupton gave the Yarrawonga crowd everything they had come to see, the trans-Tasman challenge every bit as serious as advertised.
But when the final was run and the water settled, it was Grant Harrison aboard Melton Toyota GP1 who stood tallest.
The Victorian Speed Boat Club delivered the verdict in the most direct terms possible:
“He did it!! Congratulations Grant Harrison GP1. 10 x Griffith Cup Winner 2026. The cup stays in Australia.”
Harrison, already the reigning Lucas Oil Australia Hydroplane National Drivers Championship number one, has now added a tenth Griffith Cup to a career that has few equals in Australian powerboat racing. The VSBC needed just three words to capture the magnitude of it: “SAY NO MORE.”
A trophy steeped in history
The EC Griffith Cup is 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, with editions in both bronze and silver. Historically they even travelled to the USA when the Thunder-boat Solo competed abroad. One side features winners across that 67-year span; the other bears three legendary VSBC boats: Aggressor, Vulture, and Redline. Only a limited number were ever made. This year’s medallion belongs to Grant Harrison.
The weekend also brought living history to the foreshore. Bob Saniga, who alongside Stan Jones won the 1974 Griffith Cup aboard VS 41, was present in the VSBC Members Official Legends Tent throughout the weekend. Fans could bring their collectors edition of the 2026 Yarrawonga Powerboat Spectacular Program, featuring Miss Bud’s 50th anniversary of its 1976 EC Griffith Cup win, and have it personally signed by one of the sport’s true legends.
Adding a note of continuity to the weekend, the Harrison family’s third generation racer “Lake” made their competition debut at the event, with the VSBC extending warm wishes as a new chapter began in a family name already etched into the trophy’s history.
The Saturday Night Q&A
Off the water, Saturday evening at Club Mulwala brought an exclusive Q&A session from 6pm to 9pm, featuring three giants of the powerboat racing world: Ken Lupton, Ricky Howard, and Tate Ramsey. Stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes perspectives from careers lived at extreme speed. For anyone in the room, it was a rare evening.
The cup that left Sydney and made the journey south to Yarrawonga heads back north now with its rightful owner. Grant Harrison. Ten Griffith Cups. The thunder rolls on.
Full results from the 2026 EC Griffith Cup and Round 1 of the Battery World National Drivers Championship at Yarrawonga are expected shortly. We will publish a full results and wrap-up article once the official timesheets are released.
