BALLINA - BALLINA  CUP

Presenters: Sophie Grant & Jack Mercer, with partners Ben and Lucy

We’d had a week up on the Gold Coast doing absolutely nothing productive. Ben and I had more or less claimed a stretch of sand at Burleigh, while Jack and Lucy found a decent Thai place they liked so much they went back three times.

On the drive home we crossed back over the border and rolled into Ballina, which none of us had ever properly stopped to explore.

The first thing you notice coming into town is fairly difficult to miss.

THE BIG PRAWN

Nine metres tall and sitting outside Bunnings, it’s been through a bit itself. There was even talk of demolition before the town rallied around its famous crustacean. It was eventually restored and, after years without one, finally received a tail.

Ben insisted on the photo.

Lucy insisted on a second one because his eyes were closed in the first.

 

WHERE THE RIVER MEETS THE SEA

Ballina sits where the Richmond River meets the sea, and behind its seafood-town reputation is a long maritime history.

We walked the river foreshore out towards the North Wall, taking our time past reminders of the town’s seafaring past while boats worked their way through the river mouth.

Lucy reckoned it was one of the nicest town walks she’d done in ages.

Jack was mostly hoping to spot dolphins.

He did.

Ben found a pub with a river view and somehow ended up talking to a bloke who turned out to be a retired trawler skipper, while the rest of us wandered the shops.

We’d swung by for the Ballina Cup, and it turned out to be a fine excuse to properly finish our Gold Coast trip rather than simply drive straight through.

If you’re heading north next year, do what we did.

Give Ballina a day.

Take a walk along the river, find yourself something fresh from the sea, have the obligatory argument over who has to stand underneath the Big Prawn for the photograph…

GIVE BALLINA A DAY.

AND TAKE IN THE CUP WHILE YOU’RE THERE.

 

THE BALLINA CUP
16 January 2026

FAVOURITE OR NOT, YOU STILL HAVE TO WIN

Nine days after Moruya, the cruiser had a considerably longer trip ahead of it.

Ballina.

By now Tommy had stopped asking Kenny how many Cups they were going to.

Finn hadn’t.

“Number six?”

Kenny nodded.

“Number six.”

The one catching Finn’s eye was Hurstville Zagreb.

Trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, Damien Thornton had come down from Queensland for the ride.

Kenny looked at the price.

“Favourite.”

Finn shrugged.

“I’m allowed to pick them occasionally.”

 

WHEN THE CUP GOT SERIOUS

So did Hurstville Zagreb.

Thornton had him travelling beautifully, and once the gap came, the gelding went through it.

Kenny saw it immediately.

“That’ll do it.”

Hurstville Zagreb lengthened away.

Edited By tried to come with him, but the race was disappearing.

At the line the margin was more than two lengths.

 

THE FAVOURITE DELIVERS

Hurstville Zagreb had won the Ballina Cup.

Finn turned towards Kenny.

“Comfortable.”

“Favourite.”

“Still have to win.”

Tommy nodded.

“The boy’s got you there.”

Kenny looked at him.

“Whose side are you on?”

Tommy smiled.

“Whoever’s winning.”

As Thornton brought Hurstville Zagreb back, Kenny tucked the race book away.

Six Cups down.

Finn looked towards him.

“Where now?”

Kenny smiled.

“South.”

Tommy groaned.

“We’ve only just bloody got here.”