The Wernher Trophy was donated in 1934 by Sir Derrick J. Wernher and presented to the winners of the National Men's Pairs Championship. The event was contested at the Summer North American Bridge Championship until 1962 and subsequently at the Spring NABC. From 1969 through 1971, it was played as a three session championship. In 1992 the event became Open Pairs II, a four session event which consists of two qualifying rounds and two finals rounds. In 2004 the event again was conducted at the Summer North American Bridge Championships.
Sir Derrick J. Wernher, born 1889 and died 1947, was a resident of London, England and Deal, New Jersey. He was a leading personality in American bridge during the Thirties. Sir Derrick J. Wernher was president of the American Bridge League (ABL) in 1933, chairman of its Master Plan committee and a member of the board of directors of the American Whist League (AWL). Sir Derrick J. Wernher was also one of the originators of the masterpoint system. Sir Derrick J. Wernher placed second in the Asbury Challenge Teams, presently the Spingold Knockout Teams, in 1936 and won the Reisinger, played in conjunction with the New York regional, in 1930.
Following are the Winners of the Werner Trophy.
Winners David Burnstine, Oswald Jacoby Edward Cook, Fred French Dr. Richard Ecker, Fred Kaplan Edward Cook, John Kunkle B. Jay Becker, Charles Goren John Crawford, Oswald Jacoby Merwyn Maier, Robert McPherran Joseph Low, Simon Rossant Robert von Engel, Aaron Goodman Charles Goren, Charles Solomon Sigmund Dornbusch, Herman Goldberg Sylvester Gintell, Lee Hazen Mitchell Barnes, Waldemar von Zedtwitz Sol Mogal, Tobias Stone Fred Hirsch, Samuel Katz Charles Goren, Oswald Jacoby Phillip Briggs, Richard Revell Milton Ellenby, Emanuel Hochfield Arthur Grau, William Rosen Harold Harkavy, Bill Root Douglas Drury, Eric Murray Douglas Drury, Eric Murray Paul Allinger, James Jacoby David Carter, John Hubbell William Grieve, Ira Rubin Harry Fishbein, John Gerber Jack Blair, William Christian Philip Feldesman, Ira Rubin Philip Feldesman, Ira Rubin Sami Kehela, Wolf Lebovic Ed Don Weiner, G. Gard Hays Lawrence Rosler, Jeff Rubens Barry Crane, Peter Rank Richard Lawrence, Art Price Kyle Larsen, Edmond Lazarus Michael Martino, Frank Vine Richard Kaye, Richard Walsh Giorgio Belladonna, Benito Garozzo Steve Robinson, Kit Woolsey Jack Kennedy, David Hadden George Slemmons, George Steiner Harlow Lewis, Art Waldemann Gerald Caravelli, Larry Cohen Joseph Fox, Garey Hayden Larry Kozlove, John Sheridan Roy Fox, Paul Swanson Neil Silverman, Peter Weichsel Warren Rosner, Allan Stauber David Berkowitz, Harold Lilie Marty Bergen, Allan Stauber Michael Lawrence, Peter Weichsel Ed Manfield, Kit Woolsey Bob Hamman, Paul Swanson Darryl Pedersen, George Steiner Arthur Hoffman, Stephen Shane Mike Moss, Charles Coon Steve Sion, Steve Landen Ken Cohen, Bob Thomas The Event was renamed Open Pairs II in 1992 Jeff Meckstroth, Perry Johnson Gaylor Kasle, Robert Levin Thomas Peters, John Zilic Steve Weinstein, Fred Stewart David Berkowitz, Larry Cohen Lloyd Arvedon, Allan Falk Mike Moss, Bjorn Fallenius Jeff Meckstroth, Eric Rodwell Stephen Landen, Pratap Rajadhyaksha Chris Willenken, Ron Smith Curtis Cheek, Eric Greco Geoff Hampson, Eric Greco Fulvio Fantoni, Claudio Nunes Nagy Kamel, Nader Hanna Jianrong Lin, Julie Zhu Joan Jackson, Petra Hamman
This event was held at the Summer North American Championships until 1963. A similar event was held at the Spring North American Bridge Championships from 1958 to 1962 with the following winners, for whom credit is also given for their victories.
Year Winners Norman Kay, Sidney Silodor James Pestaner, John Swanson Frank Hoadley, Julius Rosenblum Morton Rubinow, Tobias Stone Ivan Erdos, Philip Feldesman
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