Dozens of Olympic and world champion rowers will compete at this weekend's Golden Oar regatta on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra. Organisers say the event features more international stars than before, with prize money of $200,000. Croatia's Martin and Valent Sinkovic, who won three Olympic gold medals, return after starring at the 2025 event. The regatta starts on Friday, 30 October, at Black Mountain Peninsula, near the Red Shed, and runs until 1 November 2026. Twenty-four rowers from the Australian National Training Centre will take part.
Some of Australia's leading saddle bronc riders will face American competitors at the Cinch International Australian Bronc Match in Warwick, Queensland, on Saturday, 24 October 2026. The contest is part of the Warwick Rodeo and Gold Cup Campdraft. Total prize money exceeds $50,000, with $20,000 for first place. The winner also receives a custom saddle made by Troy Welsh. American riders have won the previous two titles, and the event is held at Warwick Showgrounds.
The Hay Gun Club will host a two-day clay target shoot on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25. The Saturday program starts at 10am with a 100 target point score event. The Sunday program begins at 9.30am and includes 25 pair double rise, 50 target single barrel and 50 target handicap events. Entry is $200 per nomination, and camping with hot showers is available. Cash prizes are on offer across all four events, with a high gun prize valued at $2,000 overall.
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A field of 32 players will contest the 2026 European Darts Championship, a four-day event starting Thursday, October 22, and ending Sunday, October 25. All players are seeded according to prize money earned across 15 European Tour events in 2026, so no draw determines first round matchups. First round games will be played on Thursday or Friday evenings. The second round and quarterfinals are best-of-19 legs, while the semifinals and final are best-of-21 legs.
The 2026 Everest will start at 4:15pm AEDT on Saturday, October 17, at Royal Randwick in Sydney. The race is the seventh of ten on the day's card. Last year's winner, Ka Ying Rising, returns from Hong Kong and is the short-priced favourite for the 1,200-metre Group 1 race. Local runners, led by Tempted, last year's second-place finisher, hope to beat him. Wet weather in Sydney and a rain-affected track add uncertainty to the 12-horse field.
The Everest, the world's richest turf horse race, returns for its tenth running at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 17. Twelve of the world's best sprinters will contest the 1,200 metre Group 1 race for a total prize pool of $20 million. Horses are hand-selected by slot holders, who each pay a $700,000 fee to enter. Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising starts as the short-priced favourite to defend his title, while last year's runner-up Tempted is among the main threats. Wet weather and soft track conditions are expected to add to the uncertainty.
The Bathurst 1000 prize money for 2026 has not been made public. The race is part of the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship, with most prize money awarded based on overall championship results. The fastest qualifier in each race earns a cash bonus ranging from $2,500 to $5,000, while the Bathurst 1000 pole position driver receives $10,000. The driver with the most pole positions in the 2026 season earns an additional $50,000. Teams can also compete in a live pit-stop competition, with the winning crew taking home $20,000 and the 'Golden Rattle Gun' trophy.
