Morris, Captain George

Captain George Morris of Kingsdown near Deal made one attempt in 1933, apparently for a wager of £1000. He was a trainer in 1935 for American Eva Morrison and announced he would make an attempt with her but this never happened.

He was an International Contract Bridge player and a semi-professional golf player, captain of the Walmer & Kingsdown golf club and a member of the Devonshire Club.

He was one of the 6 losing GB team members in the Bridge World Championship in 1933 against the USA, the first competition for the famous Schwab Trophy. The Contract Bridge Championship of 1933 attracted more public attention and media fanfare than any championship of modern times. The event was basically a challenge match between United States and Britain, organized chiefly by Ely Culbertson, a great promoter. The event was held July 17-22 1933 in London at Selfridges Department Store. Three hundred boards were played over a six-day span (50 per day). The playing area was surrounded by a glass cage, swarmed by hundreds of spectators who fought for every inch. Vendors even sold periscopes, allowing many more a chance to view bridge history in the making.

Bridge champion Terence Reese in his 1977 book ‘Bridge at the Top’ said Morris was “a famous gambler at every card game, and an athlete; he had made a Channel-swimming attempt and played marathon golf for big stakes. His health failed and he was a pitiable sight in later years”.

He lost in the first round of the English Golf Championship of 1932 at Royal St. Georges

He received national fame in 1934 when he won a £500 wager for playing ten rounds golf within twenty-four hours at under 900 strokes at the Walmer and Kingsdown course