This is a quick note to confirm to all concerned that the troop will not be attending the Phoenix challenge this year.

This was decision discussed by the troop leaders before our recent shield win and accepted by the troop Court of Honour last Friday night. I believe it’s worth noting the reasons here as many of our ex-members, parents and current scouts keep up to date through the website.

First of all we felt that there are a number of events that we want to to this summer that we would be unable to partake in if we were to attend the Phoenix Challenge For instance: Troop Campcraft Competition, Troop MPC, COH 3 day Expedition, Chief Scout Awards, midweek Alone patrol camping and progression in the badge system. Unfortunately the summer is only 3 months and with our 2 week scout camp there is too much to fit it all in.

Another reason is that our troop have been very dissatisfied with certain aspects of The Phoenix in recent years. I’d like to make a special mention to what happened concerning the logbook last year which is still very hard for the patrol and leadership team to accept. We only received 12% of the points (increased to 16%) and find this totally unacceptable. It’s quite clear that there was a total lack of understanding of Phoenix log book event. A hidden secret marking sheet and a very poor marking team which ruined a lot of peoples hard work. With the effort that was put into training and working to the guidelines given out by the ever changing Scouting Ireland it’s hard to “just move on” as a letter from HQ suggested. We have independently inspected our patrol logbook and feel it’s worth 80% plus according to the guidelines given out by HQ. I think it’s very important to make the point the 3^rd Cork troop are 83 years in existence, it’s one of two troops that has received the Phoenix Gold standard every year it has been issued. We have consistently finished in the top 3 over the past 10 years and would be known in Cork for our quality of people and scouting. We have maintained our quality “scout like” behaviour over the last 8 months but we feel it’s important to set the record straight. We are very glad that there was a clear winner in the Phoenix last year. We wish the 46^th / 92^nd Glanmire scouts and all from Cois Loai Corcai the very best of luck at this year’s event.

The aim now for the troop is to get the most out of the summer program and enjoy 2 -week Camp to Perros Guirec in France.

Well done to everyone who’s made the effort over the past few weeks. We all did a great job at this years indoors…

Also the mark has been set by the Fox patrol for the tent pitching challenge at 2:40… We’ll give everyone another go in the next few months

The 3rd Cork scout camp took place in Crawfordsburn Campsite, which is 11 miles outside of Belfast. In total there were 28 scouts and 8 leaders attended the camp. We were delighted with the campsite and were made very welcome. It is a site we will be delighted to recommend to others for future camps.

We took part in many on site activities such as archery, caving, obstacle course, zip line, rafting, grass sledding and orienteering. Tours were the main events of the camp with 2 tours to Belfast city, a tour to the Giants Causeway and a fantastic overnight trip on the ferry to a theme park in Scotland. Whilst on tour we took part in many exciting activities such as the cinema, tour of a sweet factory, swimming, quasar, 4D Movie experience, W5 interactive centre, Titanic Dock tour, amusements and Belfast city Bus tour.

A very competitive Inter patrol competition was held with Ross Marshall Eagle Patrol winning the overall event. In the middle of camp the competition meal was held where each patrol had a budget to buy and shop for their own choice of menu. The leaders were treated to 4 fantastic meals from the open fire competition. The Big Brother series was won by Jordan Walsh.

Overall C11 was a major success, with no injuries and a lot of great fun and scouting completed. We had a little sickness over the course of the camp. A number of scouts and leaders had a slight flu which was uncomfortable for a day or so before passing over.

I feel this camp will be remembered for many years. A big well done and thanks to all the troop leaders for the hard work in making C11 happen and for improving our camps year after year. Thanks also to our Pl’s Keith O’Regan, Luke Cassidy, Ross Marshal & James Maher who will be moving on this year. They have spent 5 fantastic years with the troop and the 3rd Cork is a better group because of them. The biggest thanks must go to the scouts and their attitude, respect and sense of fun that was shown throughout the whole scouting year. Their great behaviour was commented on many times by a lot of locals in Crawfordsburn.

The troop assembled at the Hut, got the gear ready and boarded the bus headed for the
Gap of Dunloe, Co. Kerry. On arrival at Kate Kearney’s Cottages, the patrols got sorted
with their gear and began their 10km hike into the Black Valley Hostel. As we began the
hike, the sun was shinning like it was mid June with some beautiful views as we hiked
through the Gap.

The patrols had to partake in bases along the way. Bases included map and compass
work, use of block and tackle, first aid, knots and a few team challenges.

We landed at the hostel by 7.30pm, where a fine slap up meal was had – a fry fit for
a king was on the menu with “angel whip” for dessert. That evening we chilled out
before having a review session with the entire troop of how the day went which worked
extremely well. Jerry, Leon and Bonner then gave us some demonstrations in how to rope
up a block and tackle and get a grid reference on a map.

The following morning we got up, had breakfast, cleaned up and headed for the hike
home. As we made our way home, I began thinking that it was June 1998 when we first
headed to the Black valley Hostel for a training weekend as part of the Melvin. God
have we come along way from then. In 12 years, the troop has gone from strength to strength in developing scout skills.

A great weekend was had by all; this weekend like the last weekend in Dundrum was a
great weekend, all for their own unique reasons. Looking forward to the next one

This Friday at 7:30 we will be having an investiture at the hut. All parents are more then welcome to attend. We’ll also be showing our camp video for the first time which will be placed online at a later date.

This years Phoenix was held in Pallaskenry in Limerick, one of my personal favourite locations for the competition. It began on Wednesday evening this year which is slightly earlier then the usual Thursday morning of years past.

The first night the lads had a 2 hour plan to get the tents and table up and to get the site organised. The next morning they went straight back into putting together the rest of the site which includes a dresser, fire, grubber, chopping area, wash area, wood pile, etc. And that only brings us up to 1pm. After lunch, each patrol had to complete several tasks which were marked on site, after that cook dinner, complete a 5km hike, build a bivy to sleep in in the forest and act out their sketch at a campfire… All this in just the first day.

The next 2 days were filled with more base days, cooking competitions and completing their log book. Our patrol performed magnificently and we were lucky enough to win the Bases trophy and finish in 3rd position out of 56 troops overall.

We’re all very happy with our result and a big congratulations from us, the leadership team to Luke and his entire Patrol and a special mention to Liam Mulvihill who may not have been there for the weekend but was a very important part in us getting our result, Well done lads.

Luke Cassidy
Keith O’Regan
James Maher
Leigh Doyle
Ollie McMorrow
Eoghan Cronin
Aaron O’Callaghan
Donnacha O’Brien

(Photo’s to follow)

The 3rd Cork scout camp took place in Crawfordsburn Campsite, which is 11 miles outside of Belfast. In total there were 28 scouts and 8 leaders attended the camp. We were delighted with the campsite and were made very welcome. It is a site we will be delighted to recommend to others for future camps.

We took part in many on site activities such as archery, caving, obstacle course, zip line, rafting, grass sledding and orienteering. Tours were the main events of the camp with 2 tours to Belfast city, a tour to the Giants Causeway and a fantastic over night trip on the ferry to a theme park
in Scotland. Whilst on tour we took part in many exciting activities such as the cinema, tour of  sweet factory, swimming, quasar, 4D Movie experience, W5 interactive centre, Titanic Dock tour, amusements and Belfast city Bus tour.

A very competitive Inter patrol competition was held with Ross Marshall Eagle Patrol winning the overall event. In the middle of camp the competition meal was held where each patrol had a budget to buy and shop for their own choice of menu. The leaders were treated to 4 fantastic meals from the open fire competition. The Big Brother series was won by Jordan Walsh.

Overall C11 was a major success, with no injuries and a lot of great fun and scouting completed. I feel this camp will be remembered for many years. A big well done and thanks to all the troop leaders for the hard work in making C11 happen and for improving our camps year after year.  Thanks also to our PL’s Keith O’Regan, Luke Cassidy, Ross Marshal & James Maher who will be
moving on this year. They have spent 5 fantastic years with the troop and the 3rd Cork is a better group because of them. The biggest thanks must go to the scouts and their attitude, respect and sense of fun that was shown through out the whole scouting year. Their great behaviour was
commented on many times by a lot of locals in Crawfordsburn. C12 begins here.

                        Yours In Scouting
Graham Hayes

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