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.
The competition was founded in 1954 by the journalist Kenneth Harris of The Observer newspaper,[1] 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.
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) and the Irish Mace (which served as the regional qualifier and national championship for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) have continued.
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.
| 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 | Paul Brown & Sebastian Osborn | ||
| 2009 | Jonathan Leader Maynard & Alex Worsnip | ||
| 2008 | Usman Ahmed & Hannah Klein | ||
| 2007 | Sam Block & Adam Bott | ||
| 2006 | Barry Glynn & Mark Murphy | ||
| 2005 | Fiona Dewar & Sebastian Isaac | ||
| 2004 | Harriet Jones-Fenleigh & Nicholas Tan | ||
| 2003 | University College Cork Law Society | Stephen Coutts & Cian Murphy | |
| 2002 | Dennis Kavanagh & George Payne | ||
| 2001 | Paul Brady & Colin Walsh | ||
| 2000 | Trinity College Dublin Philosophical Society | Bob Cuffe & Fergal Davis | |
| 1999 | University of Edinburgh | Andrew Jessop & Richard Wilkins | |
| 1998 | Ben Foss & Colm O'Cinneide | ||
| 1997 | Matthew Magee & Alex Massie | ||
| 1996 | Bob Dalrymple & Stephen Magee | ||
| 1995 | Manus Blessing & Duncan Hamilton | ||
| 1994 | Rufus Black & Rod Clayton | ||
| 1993 | David Langwallner & Alan Maclean | ||
| 1992 | Robin Marshall & Paul Sinclair | ||
| 1991 | Jeremy Callman & Adam Deacock | ||
| 1990 | Graeme Cleugh & Andrew Peterson | ||
| 1989 | Anthony Whelan & Malachy McAllister | ||
| 1988 | Adrian Hunt & Tim Murphy | ||
| 1987 | Jardine Simpson & John Fletcher | ||
| 1986 | Dermot Horgan & Damien Crawford | ||
| 1985 | Michael McKirdy & Angus Maciver | ||
| 1984 | Shane Murphy & Patrick Whyms | ||
| 1983 | Michael Macfarlane & John Nicolson | ||
| 1982 | Charles Kennedy & Clark McGinn | ||
| 1981 | Oliver Wise & Anthony Trace | ||
| 1980 | Nicholas Mostyn & John Lyons | ||
| 1979 | Donal O'Donnell & Conor Gearty | ||
| 1978 | Donal O'Donnell & Conor Gearty | ||
| 1977 | No tournament | ||
| 1976 | Oliver Ross & Martin Russell | ||
| 1975 | Ian Bullock & Edward Croff | ||
| 1974 | Alistair Burrow & Martin MacLachlan | ||
| 1973 | Barrie Hawkins & Bob Meaton | ||
| 1972 | Alan Gamble & Alistair Robertson | ||
| 1971 | John M Aspinall & Dennis M Singham | ||
| 1970 | John Crook & Nick Jenkins | ||
| 1969 | Rajeev Dhavan & Nicholas Stadlen | ||
| 1968 | James Hutchison & Victor MacColl | ||
| 1967 | Colin MacKay & Matthew McQueen | ||
| 1966 | David J McConnell & Cian Ó hÉigeartaigh | ||
| 1965 | Bob Marshall-Andrews & David Hunt | ||
| 1964 | Anthony Clare & Patrick Cosgrave | ||
| 1963 | Donald Dewar & Malcom MacKenzie | ||
| 1962 | A Gordon Hunter & John Smith | ||
| 1961 | Russell Johnston & David Harcus | ||
| 1960 | Vincent Kane & Mary O'Neill | ||
| 1959 | Godfrey Agbim & Owen Dudley Edwards | ||
| 1958 | Ernest C. Dalrymple-Alford & Fred Crawford | ||
| 1957 | Ronald Anderson & James Gordon | ||
| 1956 | Roger McCormick & J Scott Bernie | ||
| 1955 | J Dickson Mabon & Andrew Kennedy | ||
| 1954 | Tom Megahy & William McCarthy |
| 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 |
| Year | University | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Durham Union | Tim Sharpe & Rosie Vorri | |
| 2016-17 | Oxford Union | Teck Wei Tan & Louis Collier | |
| 2015-16 | Cambridge Union | Ruairidh Macintosh & John Papantoniou | |
| 2014-15 | Cambridge Union | Ashish Kumar & Michael Dunn Goekjian | |
| 2013-14 | Cambridge Union | Kitty Parker Brooks & Ben Adams | |
| 2012-13 | Kaplan Law School | Charlotte Thomas & Stuart Cribb | |
| 2011-12 | Will Jones & Carin Hunt | ||
| 2010-11 | Doug Cochran & Maria English | ||
| 2009-10 | Doug Cochran & Uven Chong | ||
| 2008-9 | Jonathan Leader Maynard & Alex Worsnip | ||
| 2007-8 | Usman Ahmed & Hannah Klein | ||
| 2006-7 | Sam Block & Adam Bott | ||
| 2005-6 | Nick Devlin & Alyson Thompson | ||
| 2004-5 | Fiona Dewar & Sebastian Isaac | ||
| 2003-4 | Harriet Jones-Fenleigh & Nicholas Tan | ||
| 2002-3 | James Acton & Patrick Emerson | ||
| 2001-2 | Dennis Kavanagh & George Payne |
| Year | University | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Caoimhinn Hamill & Jack Williams | |
| 2020-21 | University College Dublin Law Society | Caoilainn Carey & Alysia Cloake | |
| 2019-20 | N/A | N/A | |
| 2018-19 | Ryan Grunwell & Harry Morris | ||
| 2017-18 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Daniel Gilligan & Rory O'Sullivan | |
| 2016-17 | Sarah Jennings & Christopher Costigan | ||
| 2015-16 | Aodhán Peelo & Clíodhna Ní Chéileachair | ||
| 2014-15 | Gavin Tucker & Liam Hunt | ||
| 2013-14 | Rosalind Ní Shúilleabháin & Adam Noonan | ||
| 2012-13 | Trinity College Dublin Historical Society | Sally Rooney & Ian Curran | |
| 2011-12 | University College Dublin Literary & Historical Society | Ciarán Garrett & Michael O'Dwyer | |
| 2010-11 | Niamh Ní Mhaoileoin & Huw Duffy | ||
| 2009-10 | Eoghan Casey & Paddy Rooney | ||
| 2008-9 | Josephine Curry & Shane Farragher | ||
| 2007-8 | University College Dublin Law Society | Marguerite Carter & Ross McGuire | |
| 2006-7 | Frank Kennedy & Noel McGrath | ||
| 2005-6 | Barry Glynn & Mark Murphy | ||
| 2004-5 | Leo Mulrooney & Rory Stains | ||
| 2003-4 | Sam Collins & David Whelan | ||
| 2002-3 | Stephen Coutts & Cian Murphy | ||
| 2001-2 | Manus De Barra & Jim McElroy | ||
| 2000-1 | Paul Brady & Ian Walsh | ||
| 1999–2000 | Robert Cuffe & Fergal Davis | ||
| 1998-9 | Niall Boland & Colm O'Mongain | ||
| 1997-8 | Adrian Langan & Aoife Titley | ||
| 1996-7 | Paul McDermott & Colm O'Cinneide | ||
| 1995-6 | Mary Cosgrove & Brian Hughes | ||
| 1994-5 | Marcus Dowling & Dara Ó Briain | ||
| 1993-4 | Kerida Naidoo & Newman | ||
| 1992-3 | Michael Hodgins & Mark Rafferty | ||
| 1991-2 | Michael Hodgins & Mark Rafferty |
| Year | University | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | University of Edinburgh | Alexandr Sušić & Eli (Brooke J) Ferrell | |
| 2022-23 | Glasgow University Union | Emma Walker & Joseph Hutchison | |
| 2021-22 | Glasgow University Union | Alexander Fraser & Emma Chan | |
| 2020-21 | Glasgow University Union | Julie Nyerges & Emma Chan | |
| 2019-20 | University of St Andrews | Ruth Batten & Malcolm Risk | |
| 2018-19 | Glasgow University Union | Harry Coloe & Robyn Lawrence | |
| 2017-18 | Owen Mooney & Zannah Muir | ||
| 2016-17 | Ethan Silver & Dylan Desjardins | ||
| 2015-16 | Erin Kyle & Bethany Garry | ||
| 2014-15 | Alex Don & Ruairidh Macintosh | ||
| 2013-14 | Shannon Turner and Andrew Beverstock | ||
| 2012-13 | Ben Adams & Ruairidh Macintosh | ||
| 2011-12 | John McGee & Ross Mitchell | ||
| 2010-11 | Benjamin Lau & Marlena Valles | ||
| 2009-10 | Paul Brown & Sebastian Osborne | ||
| 2008-9 | Daniel Berman & Thomas Cahn | ||
| 2007-8 | Doug Cochran & Connie Grieve | ||
| 2006-7 | David Adams & Claire Brown | ||
| 2005-6 | David Adams & David Tait | ||
| 2004-5 | Kenny Fleming & Niall Kennedy | ||
| 2003-4 | Mark Dawson & Barney Ross | ||
| 2002-3 | Claire Brown & Nick Van Jonker | ||
| 2001-2 | Neill Harvey-Smith & Diana Tansley | ||
| 2000-1 | Duncan Cockburn & Rami Okasha | ||
| 1999–2000 | Duncan Cockburn & Rami Okasha | ||
| 1998-9 | Andrew Jessop & Richard Wilkins | ||
| 1997-8 | Ben Foss & Colm O'Cinneide | ||
| 1996-7 | Chris Elliott & Alan Horn | ||
| 1995-6 | Bob Dalrymple & Stephen Magee | ||
| 1994-5 | Manus Blessing & Duncan Hamilton | ||
| 1993-4 | Jim Begley & Graham Keys | ||
| 1992-3 | Alison Brolls & Tommy Tonner |
| Year | University | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Swansea University | Hugh Kocan & Angus Rome | |
| 2016-17 | Swansea University | Samuel Harrison & Carl Rix | |
| 2015-16 | Swansea University | Bethan Nankivell & Tara Murphy | |
| 2014-15 | Aberystwyth University | Karolien Michiels-Keary & Ollie Newlan | |
| 2013-14 | Swansea University | Ieuan Skinner & Liam Dodd | |
| 2012-13 | Aberystwyth University | Roberto Sarrionandia & Ollie Newlan | |
| 2011-12 | Aberystwyth University | Michael Keary & Roberto Sarrionandia | |
| 2010-11 | Cardiff University | Victoria Jones & Kirsty Logan | |
| 2009-10 | Glamorgan University | Soloman Judd & Adam Jivraj | |
| 2008-9 | Cardiff University | Matthew Clarke & Craig Sutherland | |
| 2007-8 | David Jones & Holly Tomlinson | ||
| 2006-7 | Matthew Clarke & Ben Lloyd | ||
| 2005-6 | David Steele & Lowri Rees | ||
| 2004-5 | Chantal Du Toit & Kate Kopajova | ||
| 2003-4 | Helen Jarman & Amy Thomas | ||
| 2002-3 | Helen Jarman & Amy Thomas | ||
| 2001-2 | Bethan Thomas & Mike Scott |
Prior to the 2001-2 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 2000-1 academic year, England and Wales began holding separate qualifying tournaments and the repechage was abolished.
| Year | University | Speakers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-1 | Kirsteen Macleod & Debbie Newman | ||
| 1999–2000 | Daragh Grant & James Probert | ||
| 1998-9 | Fergal Davis & Neill Harvey-Smith | ||
| 1997-8 | Jody Beveridge & John Madden | ||
| 1996-7 | Jon Adkin & Neil Sheldon | ||
| 1995-6 | Jon Adkin & Jon Hough | ||
| 1994-5 | Kelly Rees & Trevor Sather | ||
| 1993-4 | Rufus Black & Rod Clayton | ||
| 1992-3 | David Langwallner & Alan Maclean |