Treen Morris

Born in 1944, Treen “Curly” Morris has had a long and distinguished association with sailing as both a competitor and administrator. A former pupil of Larne Grammar School, he began sailing at the age of 13 in a Larne “Sharpie” and built his first GP14 in 1959 and started sailing the International Finn Class in 1966. As a top athlete he has represented Ireland in no fewer than 33 World, European and other major international championships. His successes include Helmsman’s Championship of Ireland in 1967 and the Irish Finn Championship in 1969 and 1975, and a bronze medal in the GP14 Class as recently as 2011.

As well as competing and coaching, Morris was heavily involved in administration as a sailing secretary at East Antrim Boat Club and Queens University SC, nationally during the formation of the Olympic Committee of the Irish Yachting Association, and internationally as a member of the technical committee of the International Optimist Dinghy Association and member of the IODA Executive Committee. As Chairman of the RYA Northern Ireland Council he established the training and funding schemes for elite athletes in 2000. In 2004 the RYA President, HRH The Princess Royal, presented the RYA Awards to Morris, recognizing his invaluable and outstanding contributions to the world of boating. He served as President of the GP14 Class from 2019 to 2022, introducing categories for all male, all female, mixed sex and youth Champions - the first Class to do so after a change in World Sailing regulations. He is also an expert as a hematology consultant and received an OBE in 2008 for services to medicine.