The Phoenix, the national Scout Craft competition, was held in Mount MellerayScout Centre on the weekend of the 19th – 23rd August' 09. Waterford Scout County had three teams taking part in the event this year. 7th De La Salle, who came first, 17th/20th/30th St Pauls who came 3rd and the 18th Ferrybank who came 9th. It was a great achievement for the county with the three teams finishing in the top 10 out of 45 teams national.

Forty-five teams of Scouts participated in the challenge having qualified through Scout County Shields/Cups around the Provinces earlier in the year. Following continuous bad weather over the past couple of weeks the main campsite for the event was relocated outside Cappoquin, while the main Staff hub remained inMount MellerayScout Centre and the Expedition Teams operated out of the Glenshelane Scout campsite.

Over the four days, teams split into Camp [8 people] and Expedition [6 people] to undertake a series of challenges such as building a campsite, raft building, environmental, hiking, river crossing, log book writing, test meals amongst many more. The challenges and tasks set out for the teams over the four days, were assessed by a team of markers, who considered their efforts based on leadership, team work and knowledge of skills. 

Present and organising the event were Brendan Lynch (Event Coordinator), Derek Long Standing Camp Chief and Lucy Kay Expedition Leader; along with Morgan O’Sullivan Programme Commissioner (Scouts) and Ian Davy Programme Commissioner (National Events).

There are four levels of award with respect to The Phoenix Challenge: Participation [29% or below the total marks], Bronze [between 30% and 64% of the total marks], Silver [between 65% and 79% of the total marks] and Gold [between 80% and 100% of the total marks].

The award ceremony took place in Mount Melleray Scout Centre and the presentations were made by the Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick and the Chief Commissioner (Youth Programme) Kiernan Gildea, while Ian Davy Programme Commissioner (National Events) thanked the Event Coordinators and Area Heads for their time and commitment and announced the awards.

• Fourteen teams were award Bronze, Twenty-four teams were awarded Silver and seven teams were awarded Gold.   
• The Environmental Projects Award  [Richard Murphy Trophy] was presented to Cois Laoi Corcaí Scout County – 46th/ 92nd Cork
• The Special Projects Trophy [Log Book] was presented to Mountpeilier Scout County – 103rd Dublin
• The Cooking Trophy was presented to Dublinia Scout County – 91st Dublin
• The Camp-craft & Expedition-craft Trophy was presented to Cois Laoi Corcaí Scout County – 3rd Cork
• The Camp Bases & Expedition Bases Trophy was presented to Waterford Scout County – 17th Waterford
• The top ten was the announced with the third place, second place and The Phoenix Trophy being presented [the 1st place team also received a scaled down replica of The Phoenix Trophy to keep]

TOP 10 PLACES
10 – Lee Valley Scout County (4th Cork)
9 – Waterford Scout County (18th / 26th Waterford)
8 – Limerick Scout County (26th Limerick)
7 – Dublina Scout County (91st Dublin)
6 – Louth Scout County (4th Louth)
5 – Down & Connor Scout County (11th Belfast)
4 – Mountpeiller Scout County (103rd Dublin)
3 – Waterford Scout County (17th Waterford)
2 – Cois Laoi Corcaí Scout County (3rd Cork)
1– Waterford Scout County (7th Waterford)