PHOTO: Previous overall winners with the mace
James Probert james_probert@esu.org of the English Speaking Union has reported on the England contest.
Here is some background information from http://www.britishdebate.com/universities/mace/
The ESU John Smith Memorial Mace is the largest and oldest debating competition in Europe, featuring over one hundred and fifty teams. Former winners include the late Donald Dewar, Charles Kennedy, Bob Marshall-Andrews MP, The Rt Hon the Lord Hunt of Wirral, Professor Anthony Clare, and the late Labour leader, John Smith, in whose honour the competition was renamed in 1995.
The John Smith Memorial Mace is composed of four University National Championships. The winners of the English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish National Championships debate against each other in the International Final for the chance to win the Silver Mace.
The John Smith Memorial Mace in England is administered directly by the ESU Centre for Speech and Debate. The Mace in Wales is administered by the Wales Debate Federation and in Scotland by ESU Scotland. In Ireland the competition is run by a convenor - this year’s convenor is Derek Lande.
The International Final 2006-07 will take place in May 2007 in Ireland. Details will be announced closer to the time.
Sponsors
This year’s ESU John Smith Memorial Mace is sponsored by Baillie Gifford.
Here are the results from this year:
The ESU JSMM for England 2006, sponsored by Baillie Gifford, was won at Dartmouth House on Saturday evening by Cambridge B (Sam Block and Adam Bott).
The other finalist teams were:
P1: Oxford WG (Alex Worsnip and Richie Goodman)
O1: Durham A (Ali Cormack and Ian Chapman)
O2: Oxford CM (Alex Campbell and Eusebius McKaiser)
The motion was “This House believes that England needs a Parliament”.
I would like to congratulate all those who took part; thank all those who helped us by giving up their time to adjudicate the tournament; and express our appreciation for the invaluable support of our sponsors, Baillie Gifford (www.bailliegifford.com).
Please find enclosed team and individual tabs. If you cannot access them they will be on www.britishdebate.com shortly.
Sam and Adam will go on to represent England at the International Final of the 2006/7 ESU John Smith Memorial Mace, to be held in Ireland next April. Details of date and location will be released shortly.
James Probert
Deputy Director of Education &
Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate
The English-Speaking Union
37 Charles Street
London W1J 5ED
T: 020 7529 1550
F: 020 7495 6108
W: www.esu.org
