Rowing Across the Pond
Photo by Simon Tasker, Henley Royal Regatta 2022
The consistent and collective success of Radley College Boat Club is having a significant impact on the lives of individual Radleians. An increasing number of boys who have plied their trade on the short stretch of river between Sandford Lock and Radley are being courted by elite American universities. In this special feature, we explore why Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and the like are taking such an interest in our boys, and share the stories of Radleians rowing across the pond.
It’s 2020, and three Old Radleians have just won bronze in the VIII at the Tokyo Olympics. Charlie Elwes (2010, J), Ollie Wynne-Griffith (2007, D/J), and Tom George (2008, G) all left Radley to study in the USA: Charlie and Ollie at Yale, and Tom at Princeton. Since then, they have been at the forefront of British Rowing, winning medals at World and European Championships, and Henley Royal Regatta. Their journeys to the top did not go unnoticed at Radley, where ‘the three’ are still revered by boys of all ages. As well as inspiring the current crop of Radley rowers, they have helped to cement our reputation as a breeding ground for elite athletes, with schools and universities across the world revering the programme led by John Gearing and Sam Townsend.
Ollie, who recently completed an MBA at Cambridge and is now training full-time ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, credits his time at Yale as the most formative of his rowing career: “My time at Yale has had a profound impact on my life. There is no way I would have made it to the Olympics without the four years I spent out there. The US college experience opens doors like no other; there is such a wide array of opportunities for students to embrace. Both the athletic and academic experience is first class with access to top-class professors and coaches. “Much like Oxbridge, the environment feels packed with the leaders of tomorrow. For me, this was a huge pull and greatly aided my development. Being surrounded by other highly ambitious individuals who are dedicated to their craft really enabled me to reach further than I ever thought possible. Away from the water, the academic support was first-rate. Professors were always available, and the number of contact hours each week meant I could extract every ounce of learning from each class, even when training full-time.”
Cameron Tasker (2017, E) is a more recent leaver who has also made the trip across the pond. Cam, who joined us in the Sixth Form from Norwich School, maximised the sporting opportunities on offer at Radley. He represented the 1st XV at rugby and was part of the exceptional VIII who reached the final of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup in 2022 after beating Eton in the infamous semi-final; widely regarded as the race of the regatta. After their exceptional campaign and his subsequent gold medal in the GB four at the U19 World Championships, it didn’t take long for America to come calling. Cameron was offered a substantial scholarship to study at The University of Washington, Seattle. As a freshman he rowed in the Varsity 8 which lined up against Yale, Brown, won Silver in the Varsity VIII at last year’s National Championships, and won The Windermere Cup against Australia.
Cameron, now a sophomore majoring in Political Economy, told us: “I am very grateful for the opportunity to study and row here. Being part of the Men’s Rowing team at the University of Washington has already been transformative for both my athletic ability and my personal development. It is inspiring to be surrounded by like-minded people who are relentlessly driven in the pursuit of a common goal. Ambition and work ethic are highly celebrated characteristics. The environment is entirely geared towards maximising our potential as athletes, and it's an incredibly rewarding process to be a part of. Maximising learning from the classroom is also at the forefront of the student-athlete experience, and the academic support is top-notch.”
It is no surprise that more and more boys are looking to the USA post-Radley. The quality of education is a real draw for our boys, with many citing the ability to study a range of subjects as the main reason for their initial interest. In the USA, students choose a major which will typically make up approximately half of their academic timetable and can select a number of minors which require half as many classes as a major. Additionally, there is an option to hone in on a niche area of study through concentrations. These allow students to specialize in a specific area of their major, so a history major might take a concentration in the history of religion, for example. For those without a clear employment goal, the ability to study multiple subjects in detail is particularly attractive and, arguably, provides more options for further study or the world of work.
Unsurprisingly, boys are taken by the student experience of US colleges and the significant cultural differences from universities in the UK. Many have travelled extensively on holiday and are excited by living abroad, meeting new people and of new experiences. There is likely some influence from film and television, but many of the boys we spoke to say the student life more than lives up to their Hollywood expectations.
Hylton Harvey (2017, J), who also rowed in the VIII which reached the Henley final in 2022, is now a Freshman at Stanford, an elite school in California. Majoring in Economics, he has more than settled into life on the East Coast: “I’ve really enjoyed my time at Stanford so far. You won’t be surprised to hear that living in California is fantastic, the people are friendly and the students are incredibly ambitious. By the end of my first year, I will have taken classes in Computer Science, Economics, Maths, French and writing on anti-technology rhetoric, giving a breadth to my studies that is less common in the UK. On the athletic front, my team and I row year-round in the beautiful San Francisco Bay. We are incredibly well looked after, with superb coaching, food and nutrition guidance, and strength and conditioning programmes. Varsity athletes have their own dining facilities, ensuring we are well-fuelled for training and competition. I haven’t regretted my decision to come to the USA once, which is the biggest endorsement I can give!”
For Radley College Boat Club, the increased visibility is bringing great reward. “It is incredibly rewarding for us as a programme to see so many of our boys given the opportunity to further their rowing careers to such a high standard and get accepted into such prestigious universities,” says Sam Townsend, Master in Charge of Rowing. "This comes off the back of hours and hours of hard work from these young men in the gym, on the river and in the classroom, meaning they are top prospects for these university recruiters. The knock-on impact of this for our club is that there is a clear pathway to excellence beyond Radley College Boat Club for our new oarsmen every year and this helps to fulfil one of our core objectives, which is to see RCBC oarsmen carry on enjoying the sport of rowing long after they have left our care. Nothing brings more joy to us as a coaching staff than to see our ORs competing for new universities and potentially internationally for their country. Long may it continue!"
As the political headwinds blow stronger, it is likely that more and more boys will look to the USA. Although rowing has been a big ‘in’ for Radleians, many boys have sought sunnier climes across the pond for the academic and lifestyle choices alone. Malcolm Brown, Head of US University Entrance, commented: “I firmly believe that any Radleian seeking a different university experience could find a post-18 option in the United States. Whether at an Ivy League school or not, the opportunities are limitless, and Radley boys have the necessary skills to flourish in the American environment.”
Radley has a simple aim: to develop global citizens, ready to go out into the world with a foundation of excellence, a strong sense of purpose and a good moral compass. As more Radleians look across the pond for university study, our loss is undoubtedly America’s gain.
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This article was written for The Radleian, Radley College’s community magazine, in April 2024.
