The Bridge to the World

When the Harvard men’s heavyweights hit the water at the Head of the Charles Regatta this weekend, they’ll be taking part in a competition that will, quite literally, play host to many of the best crews in the world—including national teams from the United States, Great Britain, and France.

But while the Crimson boats might be representing a college rather than an entire nation, Harvard too will boast a collection of rowers pretty comfortable on the global scene, headlined by varsity eight veterans Richard Anderson and Anthony Locke.

Anderson, a senior from Victoria, B.C., and Locke, a junior from Isle of Wight, Great Britain, raced for their home countries’ heavyweight eights at the Under-23 World Championships in Racice, Czech Republic this past summer.

In the first heat, Anderson’s Canadian crew edged out Locke’s Brits by just over two seconds to win. According to Anderson, his boat benefited from taking a more tranquil approach compared to its immediate neighbors.

“Australia was on one side of us,” he begins. “They started screaming, ‘Australia! Band of Brothers!’ And they were totally serious about it...On the other side, the Russians were there, and the Russians started doing the same thing—in Russian.”

The Canadians’ response?

“We were in the middle, so we started meowing like cats,” Anderson says. “Then we started singing ‘Sexy Can I?’...It was actually the greatest way to start the race because we were so relaxed.”

But even without the help of Ray J’s relatively recent hit single, Great Britain turned the tables in a thrilling final, taking bronze while Canada crossed the finish line in fifth.

“World finals are incredibly exciting,” Locke says. “It was one of the closest races I’ve ever had...It was definitely very high pressure, but exciting racing.”

But while racing at Worlds was compelling in its own right for Anderson and Locke, the training process that preceded it might have been just as valuable an experience.

Anderson and the Canadians had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe, training in places like Prague and Holland before making their way to Racice.

“It was actually a lot of fun, mostly for the camaraderie,” Anderson says. “It was the last year I was eligible [for the U-23 team]...We got to go through the whole experience of a really big event.”

Locke returned to his native Great Britain, where th e U-23 club loosened its restrictions on admitting rowers attending American colleges.

“Logistically, it’s been hard to make us come back and do the trials properly,” Locke says. “This year we kept in touch with coaches [and let them know we were ready]...It was good to go back to England.”

The rigorous training involved in preparing for international competition not only served to prepare Locke and Anderson for Worlds, but for what’s to come this year at Harvard as well. Next spring’s sprints season will be both rowers’ second on the varsity eight. But while Anderson and Locke are now experienced members of the heavyweights’ top boat, they took markedly different paths to get there—despite the fact that they both arrived at Harvard with plenty of international experience, as well as potential, in tow.

Locke’s ascension to the 1V was a swift one. Having rowed for the British team at Junior Worlds twice—once in an eight and once in a coxless four—an already-seasoned Locke took on a prominent role in 2008 on a freshman eight that won the EARC Sprints and took third at nationals. The following year, a spot on the varsity eight was secured, and he sat in the seven seat in every race.

“The one thing that I can point out about Anthony that is pretty unique is the way he treats the sport,” heavyweight captain Blake Pucsek says. “He’s very passionate about it...He always wants to do well for the sake of the program and not just to beat up on the other crew.”

Anderson also arrived at Harvard with experience in international waters, having also raced at Junior Worlds twice. But after his freshman year with the Crimson, Anderson needed a break from the sport that he had devoted much of his life to since he was 13.

“It seemed like the right time to take off,” Anderson says. “It was a good choice for me.”

Apparently so. Anderson returned to the team his junior year and impressed immediately, earning a spot for himself on the top boat.

Pucsek, who grew up minutes away from Anderson, marvels at the renewed drive his teammate displayed when he came back.

“What was neat for me was...seeing Richard with the same kind of drive he had when we were younger and still learning the sport,” Pucsek says.

Now Anderson and Locke begin anew, hoping a successful fall translates into an even better spring. But while their eyes are set firmly ahead, the Head of the Charles—with its thousands of spectators and international flavor—just may evoke memories of their formative Worlds experiences, albeit without the pressure, and possibly without the cat noises or Ray-J.

“It’s a giant competition, but it’s very friendly,” Anderson says. “To me, it’s more of a spectacle than a regatta.”

—Staff writer Loren Amor can be reached at lamor@fas.harvard.edu.