# John Smith Memorial Mace

The John Smith Memorial Mace (known as the Observer Mace from 1954 to 1995) is an annual debating tournament (British Parliamentary format) contested by universities in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The equivalent competition for secondary schools is the ESU Schools Mace.

## History

The competition was founded in 1954 by the journalist Kenneth Harris of The Observer newspaper, and was sponsored by the newspaper until 1995. It was then renamed the John Smith Memorial Mace in honour of British Labour Party leader John Smith, who won the tournament as a member of the Glasgow University team in 1962, and died in 1994.
The competition has been held annually since 1954, except for 1977, when no tournament was organised. In the early years, neither Oxbridge debating societies (the Oxford Union nor the Cambridge Union) participated. Glasgow University Union has been the most successful institution in the competition's history, winning the tournament 16 times, most recently in 2018.
In addition to John Smith, other notable former winners include Charles Kennedy, Donald Dewar, John Nicolson, Lord Hunt of Wirral and Professor Anthony Clare.

## Format

Since 1993, the competition has been run by the English-Speaking Union, with assistance from regional convenors. Four regional tournaments are held each year for universities in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Irish tournament is open to teams from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The winners of these four regional competitions then go on to face each other in the International Final, which is held each spring to determine the overall champions.
No International Final has been held since 2019, when the English-Speaking Union removed its sponsorship of the competition. Only the Scottish Mace (which served as the regional qualifier and national championship for Scotland) has continued consistently, with the Irish Mace (which served as the regional qualifier and national championship for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) continuing in most years and the Welsh Mace (sometimes known as Welsh Nationals, which served as the regional qualifier and national championship for Wales) continuing in some years.
All debates in the competition are held using the British Parliamentary debate format. Speeches in the International Final and regional finals are seven minutes long, which is similar to most other British Parliamentary format tournaments, where speeches are usually seven or five minutes long. Until 2001, speeches in the tournament's finals were ten minutes long.
The Mace is considered by many debaters to be effectively an overall championship for the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the regional qualifying tournaments serving effectively as national championships for England, Scotland and Wales. The Irish Times National Debating Championship served as the Irish qualifier for the Mace in the 1960s, but is now run separately.

## Past champions

| Year | Institution / Society | Speakers |
| 2018 | Glasgow University Union | Owen Mooney & Zannah Muir |
| 2017 | Oxford Union | Teck Wei Tan & Louis Collier |
| 2016 | University College Dublin | Aodhán Peelo & Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair |
| 2015 | Cambridge Union | Ashish Kumar & Michael Dunn Goekjian |
| 2014 | Cambridge Union | Kitty Parker Brooks & Ben Adams |
| 2013 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Sally Rooney & Ian Curran |
| 2012 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Ciarán Garrett & Michael O'Dwyer |
| 2011 | Cambridge Union | Doug Cochran & Maria English |
| 2010 | University of Edinburgh | Paul Brown & Sebastian Osborn |
| 2009 | Oxford Union | Jonathan Leader Maynard & Alex Worsnip |
| 2008 | Lincoln's Inn | Usman Ahmed & Hannah Klein |
| 2007 | Cambridge Union | Sam Block & Adam Bott |
| 2006 | King's Inns | Barry Glynn & Mark Murphy |
| 2005 | Lincoln's Inn | Fiona Dewar & Sebastian Isaac |
| 2004 | Cambridge Union | Harriet Jones-Fenleigh & Nicholas Tan |
| 2003 | University College Cork Law Society | Stephen Coutts & Cian Murphy |
| 2002 | Lincoln's Inn | Dennis Kavanagh & George Payne |
| 2001 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Paul Brady & Colin Walsh |
| 2000 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Bob Cuffe & Fergal Davis |
| 1999 | University of Edinburgh | Andrew Jessop & Richard Wilkins |
| 1998 | University of Edinburgh | Ben Foss & Colm O'Cinneide |
| 1997 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Matthew Magee & Alex Massie |
| 1996 | University of Edinburgh | Bob Dalrymple & Stephen Magee |
| 1995 | Glasgow University Union | Manus Blessing & Duncan Hamilton |
| 1994 | Oxford Union | Rufus Black & Rod Clayton |
| 1993 | Gray's Inn | David Langwallner & Alan Maclean |
| 1992 | Glasgow University Union | Robin Marshall & Paul Sinclair |
| 1991 | Middle Temple | Jeremy Callman & Adam Deacock |
| 1990 | Glasgow University Union | Graeme Cleugh & Andrew Peterson |
| 1989 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Anthony Whelan & Malachy McAllister |
| 1988 | University College Cork Philosophical Society | Adrian Hunt & Tim Murphy |
| 1987 | Glasgow University Union | Jardine Simpson & John Fletcher |
| 1986 | King's Inns | Dermot Horgan & Damien Crawford |
| 1985 | Glasgow University Union | Michael McKirdy & Angus Maciver |
| 1984 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Shane Murphy & Patrick Whyms |
| 1983 | Glasgow University Union | Michael Macfarlane & John Nicolson |
| 1982 | Glasgow University Union | Charles Kennedy & Clark McGinn |
| 1981 | Lincoln's Inn | Oliver Wise & Anthony Trace |
| 1980 | Middle Temple | Nicholas Mostyn & John Lyons |
| 1979 | University College Dublin Law Society | Donal O'Donnell & Conor Gearty |
| 1978 | University College Dublin Law Society | Donal O'Donnell & Conor Gearty |
| 1977 | No tournament |
| 1976 | Inner Temple | Oliver Ross & Martin Russell |
| 1975 | Inner Temple | Ian Bullock & Edward Croff |
| 1974 | Glasgow University Union | Alistair Burrow & Martin MacLachlan |
| 1973 | Ealing College | Barrie Hawkins & Bob Meaton |
| 1972 | Glasgow University Union | Alan Gamble & Alistair Robertson |
| 1971 | Inner Temple | John M Aspinall & Dennis M Singham |
| 1970 | University College Cardiff | John Crook & Nick Jenkins |
| 1969 | Cambridge Union | Rajeev Dhavan & Nicholas Stadlen |
| 1968 | University of Strathclyde | James Hutchison & Victor MacColl |
| 1967 | Glasgow University Union | Colin MacKay & Matthew McQueen |
| 1966 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | David J McConnell & Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh |
| 1965 | University of Bristol | Bob Marshall-Andrews & David Hunt |
| 1964 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Anthony Clare & Patrick Cosgrave |
| 1963 | Glasgow University Union | Donald Dewar & Malcom MacKenzie |
| 1962 | Glasgow University Union | A Gordon Hunter & John Smith |
| 1961 | University of Edinburgh | Russell Johnston & David Harcus |
| 1960 | University College Cardiff | Vincent Kane & Mary O'Neill |
| 1959 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Godfrey Agbim & Owen Dudley Edwards |
| 1958 | Birkbeck College | Ernest C. Dalrymple-Alford & Fred Crawford |
| 1957 | Glasgow University Union | Ronald Anderson & James Gordon |
| 1956 | Glasgow University Union | Roger McCormick & J Scott Bernie |
| 1955 | Glasgow University Union | J Dickson Mabon & Andrew Kennedy |
| 1954 | Ruskin College | Tom Megahy & William McCarthy |

## Most victories

| Institution/Society | Victories |
| Glasgow University Union | 16 |
| Cambridge Union | 6 |
| University of Edinburgh | 5 |
| Lincoln's Inn | 4 |
| University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | 4 |
| Inner Temple | 3 |
| Oxford Union | 3 |
| Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | 2 |
| Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | 2 |
| King's Inns | 2 |
| University College Dublin Law Society | 2 |
| Middle Temple | 2 |
| University College Cardiff | 2 |
| University College Cork Philosophical Society | 1 |
| University College Cork Law Society | 1 |
| Gray's Inn | 1 |
| University of Bristol | 1 |
| Ealing College | 1 |
| Birkbeck College | 1 |
| Ruskin College | 1 |
| University of Strathclyde | 1 |

## Victories by country

| Scotland | England | Ireland | Wales |
| 21 | 21 | 14 | 2 |

## Winners of recent national qualifying tournaments
### English Mace

| Year | University | Speakers |
| 2017–2018 | Durham Union | Tim Sharpe & Rosie Vorri |
| 2016–2017 | Oxford Union | Teck Wei Tan & Louis Collier |
| 2015–2016 | Cambridge Union | Ruairidh Macintosh & John Papantoniou |
| 2014–2015 | Cambridge Union | Ashish Kumar & Michael Dunn Goekjian |
| 2013–2014 | Cambridge Union | Kitty Parker Brooks & Ben Adams |
| 2012–2013 | Kaplan Law School | Charlotte Thomas & Stuart Cribb |
| 2011–2012 | Oxford Union | Will Jones & Carin Hunt |
| 2010–2011 | Cambridge Union | Doug Cochran & Maria English |
| 2009–2010 | Cambridge Union | Doug Cochran & Uven Chong |
| 2008–2009 | Oxford Union | Jonathan Leader Maynard & Alex Worsnip |
| 2007–2008 | Lincoln's Inn | Usman Ahmed & Hannah Klein |
| 2006–2007 | Cambridge Union | Sam Block & Adam Bott |
| 2005–2006 | Cambridge Union | Nick Devlin & Alyson Thompson |
| 2004–2005 | Lincoln's Inn | Fiona Dewar & Sebastian Isaac |
| 2003–2004 | Cambridge Union | Harriet Jones-Fenleigh & Nicholas Tan |
| 2002–2003 | Cambridge Union | James Acton & Patrick Emerson |
| 2001–2002 | Lincoln's Inn | Dennis Kavanagh & George Payne |

### Irish Mace

| Year | University | Speakers |
| 2021–2022 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Caoimhinn Hamill & Jack Williams |
| 2020–2021 | University College Dublin Law Society | Caoilainn Carey & Alysia Cloake |
| 2019–2020 | N/A | N/A |
| 2018–2019 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Ryan Grunwell & Harry Morris |
| 2017–2018 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Daniel Gilligan & Rory O'Sullivan |
| 2016–2017 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Sarah Jennings & Christopher Costigan |
| 2015–2016 | University College Dublin | Aodhán Peelo & Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair |
| 2014–2015 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Gavin Tucker & Liam Hunt |
| 2013–2014 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Rosalind Ní Shúilleabháin & Adam Noonan |
| 2012–2013 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Sally Rooney & Ian Curran |
| 2011–2012 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Ciarán Garrett & Michael O'Dwyer |
| 2010–2011 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin & Huw Duffy |
| 2009–2010 | Honorable Society of King's Inns | Eoghan Casey & Paddy Rooney |
| 2008–2009 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Josephine Curry & Shane Farragher |
| 2007–2008 | University College Dublin Law Society | Marguerite Carter & Ross McGuire |
| 2006–2007 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Frank Kennedy & Noel McGrath |
| 2005–2006 | King's Inns | Barry Glynn & Mark Murphy |
| 2004–2005 | King's Inns | Leo Mulrooney & Rory Stains |
| 2003–2004 | University College Dublin Law Society | Sam Collins & David Whelan |
| 2002–2003 | University College Cork Law Society | Stephen Coutts & Cian Murphy |
| 2001–2002 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Manus De Barra & Jim McElroy |
| 2000–2001 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Paul Brady & Ian Walsh |
| 1999–2000 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Robert Cuffe & Fergal Davis |
| 1998–1999 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Niall Boland & Colm O'Mongain |
| 1997–1998 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Adrian Langan & Aoife Titley |
| 1996–1997 | King's Inns | Paul McDermott & Colm O'Cinneide |
| 1995–1996 | University College Galway Literary & Debating Society | Mary Cosgrove & Brian Hughes |
| 1994–1995 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Marcus Dowling & Dara Ó Briain |
| 1993–1994 | King's Inns | Kerida Naidoo & Newman |
| 1992–1993 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Michael Hodgins & Mark Rafferty |
| 1991–1992 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Michael Hodgins & Mark Rafferty |

### Scottish Mace

| Year | University | Speakers |
| 2024–2025 | University of Edinburgh | Eli (Brooke J) Ferrell & Cyrus Wrede-Braden |
| 2023–2024 | University of Edinburgh | Eli (Brooke J) Ferrell & Alexandr Sušić |
| 2022–2023 | Glasgow University Union | Emma Walker & Joseph Hutchison |
| 2021–2022 | Glasgow University Union | Alexander Fraser & Emma Chan |
| 2020–2021 | Glasgow University Union | Julie Nyerges & Emma Chan |
| 2019–2020 | University of St Andrews | Ruth Batten & Malcolm Risk |
| 2018–2019 | Glasgow University Union | Harry Coloe & Robyn Lawrence |
| 2017–2018 | Glasgow University Union | Owen Mooney & Zannah Muir |
| 2016–2017 | University of Edinburgh | Ethan Silver & Dylan Desjardins |
| 2015–2016 | Glasgow University Union | Erin Kyle & Bethany Garry |
| 2014–2015 | University of St Andrews | Alex Don & Ruairidh Macintosh |
| 2013–2014 | University of Edinburgh | Shannon Turner and Andrew Beverstock |
| 2012–2013 | University of St Andrews | Ben Adams & Ruairidh Macintosh |
| 2011–2012 | Glasgow University Union | John McGee & Ross Mitchell |
| 2010–2011 | University of Edinburgh | Benjamin Lau & Marlena Valles |
| 2009–2010 | University of Edinburgh | Paul Brown & Sebastian Osborne |
| 2008–2009 | University of St Andrews | Daniel Berman & Thomas Cahn |
| 2007–2008 | University of St Andrews | Doug Cochran & Connie Grieve |
| 2006–2007 | Glasgow University Union | David Adams & Claire Brown |
| 2005–2006 | Glasgow University Union | David Adams & David Tait |
| 2004–2005 | Glasgow University Union | Kenny Fleming & Niall Kennedy |
| 2003–2004 | University of Edinburgh | Mark Dawson & Barney Ross |
| 2002–2003 | Glasgow University Union | Claire Brown & Nick Van Jonker |
| 2001–2002 | University of Edinburgh | Neill Harvey-Smith & Diana Tansley |
| 2000–2001 | University of Aberdeen | Duncan Cockburn & Rami Okasha |
| 1999–2000 | University of Aberdeen | Duncan Cockburn & Rami Okasha |
| 1998–1999 | University of Edinburgh | Andrew Jessop & Richard Wilkins |
| 1997–1998 | University of Edinburgh | Ben Foss & Colm O'Cinneide |
| 1996–1997 | Glasgow University Union | Chris Elliott & Alan Horn |
| 1995–1996 | University of Edinburgh | Bob Dalrymple & Stephen Magee |
| 1994–1995 | Glasgow University Union | Manus Blessing & Duncan Hamilton |
| 1993–1994 | University of Strathclyde | Jim Begley & Graham Keys |
| 1992–1993 | University of Strathclyde | Alison Brolls & Tommy Tonner |

### Welsh Mace

| Year | University | Speakers |
| 2023–2024 | N/A | N/A |
| 2022–2023 | Aberystwyth University | Alexandra McCreadie & Dominic Ferris |
| 2021–2022 | Aberystwyth University | Alexandra McCreadie & Zach Godley-McAvoy |
| 2020–2021 | Cardiff University | Ebony Walker & Zach Menhinnitt |
| 2019–2020 | N/A | N/A |
| 2018–2019 | N/A | N/A |
| 2017–2018 | Swansea University | Hugh Kocan & Angus Rome |
| 2016–2017 | Swansea University | Samuel Harrison & Carl Rix |
| 2015–2016 | Swansea University | Bethan Nankivell & Tara Murphy |
| 2014–2015 | Aberystwyth University | Karolien Michiels-Keary & Ollie Newlan |
| 2013–2014 | Swansea University | Ieuan Skinner & Liam Dodd |
| 2012–2013 | Aberystwyth University | Roberto Sarrionandia & Ollie Newlan |
| 2011–2012 | Aberystwyth University | Michael Keary & Roberto Sarrionandia |
| 2010–2011 | Cardiff University | Victoria Jones & Kirsty Logan |
| 2009–2010 | Glamorgan University | Soloman Judd & Adam Jivraj |
| 2008–2009 | Cardiff University | Matthew Clarke & Craig Sutherland |
| 2007–2008 | Aberystwyth University | David Jones & Holly Tomlinson |
| 2006–2007 | Cardiff University | Matthew Clarke & Ben Lloyd |
| 2005–2006 | Cardiff University | David Steele & Lowri Rees |
| 2004–2005 | Cardiff University | Chantal Du Toit & Kate Kopajova |
| 2003–2004 | Cardiff University | Helen Jarman & Amy Thomas |
| 2002–2003 | Cardiff University | Helen Jarman & Amy Thomas |
| 2001–2002 | Swansea University | Bethan Thomas & Mike Scott |

### England & Wales Mace

Prior to the 2001–2002 academic year, England and Wales held a combined qualifying tournament for the International Final of the Mace. At the time, the winners of the Irish, Scottish and English/Welsh tournaments qualified for the International Final automatically, while runners-up from the events qualified for a repechage debate which determined the fourth team in the International Final. After the 2000–2001 academic year, England and Wales began holding separate qualifying tournaments and the repechage was abolished.
| Year | University | Speakers |
| 2000–2001 | Cambridge Union | Kirsteen Macleod & Debbie Newman |
| 1999–2000 | University of London Union | Daragh Grant & James Probert |
| 1998–1999 | University of Leeds | Fergal Davis & Neill Harvey-Smith |
| 1997–1998 | Inner Temple | Jody Beveridge & John Madden |
| 1996–1997 | Gray's Inn | Jon Adkin & Neil Sheldon |
| 1995–1996 | City University | Jon Adkin & Jon Hough |
| 1994–1995 | Cambridge Union | Kelly Rees & Trevor Sather |
| 1993–1994 | Oxford Union | Rufus Black & Rod Clayton |
| 1992–1993 | Gray's Inn | David Langwallner & Alan Maclean |