Phenomenal Waterford Success at the Melvin Trophy
Above: The St. Paul's team that won the first ever Melvin Trophy in Kilcully in 1985.
Over the years the Waterford and South Kilkenny Region proved itself to be the most successful region in national competitions in the country. The Regional contests are always closely fought with very strong competition. As with most regions in the country the winners of the Regional Shield went on to compete in the Melvin Trophy. In the Waterford South Kilkenny Region because of the high standard both the first and the second places went and on occasion the third place team in the Regional shield also went. The first team to go to a Melvin from Waterford and South Kilkenny was the 7th Waterford De La Salle in 1961 when they came fourth, since then one or more teams have gone to the Melvin every year.
Above: Melvin 2000 Winners - 3rd De La Salle Scout Troop.
In 1985 the region celebrated their first Melvin win when the 17th St. Pauls won the Melvin in Kilcully Co. Cork. The region was not so successful in 1986 but in 1987 the 17th won the Melvin again. It didn’t stop there, they went on to win it for the next two years as well making it three in a row. The third year was the most successful for the region as they hosted the contest, not only that but the second team from the region that qualified for the Melvin, the 13th De La Salle were runners up in the Melvin that year.
Above: The 13th De La Salle team on the Melvin in 1986.
For the next four years teams from the region performed well at the Melvin but none of the major trophies were brought back. Then in 1994 the 13th won the Campcraft Trophy at the Melvin, it was the first time the trophy had been won by a Waterford team and it was very significant as the large shield had been donated by the Waterford South Kilkenny Region. That year the 13th also came fourth in the Melvin trophy.
Above: The 13th De La Salle Waterford after
winning
the All Ireland Campcraft Shield.
Below: The 10th Kilmacow
after winning the
Best Newcomers at
the Melvin in 1995.
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The next year 1995 the Melvin was held in Larch Hill and was won by the 17th Waterford who also won the campcraft trophy. Other regional teams were successful at the 1995 Melvin, the 13th won the project and the 10th Kilkenny won the best newcomers.
Above and Below: The 1995 17th St. Paul's Waterford Melvin team which won the Melvin Trophy and the Campcraft Shield. The picture includes the winning team, Scoutleader Pat O'Connor and Chief Scout Joe Lawlor.
In 1996 the Waterford South Kilkenny Region yet again hosted the Melvin and so four teams from the region took part in the event. Good performances were put in by the 3rd Waterford who came 17th, the 10th Kilkenny who came 13th, the 13th who came fourth and the 17th who retained the Melvin Trophy.
Above: The Chief Scout, Joe Lawlor and the Deputy Mayor of Waterford meet the 1996 Melvin winners - St. Pauls.
The 1997 Melvin was the most successful year so far for the region. The 3rd Waterford had their best ever result coming fourth just behind the 13th who were third. The 17th won the Trophy yet again for the third time in a row and for an amazing seventh time, a national record. In 2000 the 3rd De La Salle were successful in capturing the trophy for their unit for the very first time. Our Melvins page has more information on that success.
Above: The 1997 Melvin winners from St. Pauls.
There is no equalling the record of St. Pauls however. Up to 2003 they had won the competition an amazing 11 times. All the regional troops which have ever qualified for the Melvin have done the region proud. The troops from the region that have qualified for a Melvin are the 3rd DLS Waterford, 7th DLS Waterford, 13th DLS Waterford, 17th St. Pauls Waterford, 18th Butlerstown Waterford, 19th Ballygunner Waterford, 27th Waterford, the 31st Faithlegg Waterford, the 29th Sacred Heart and the 10th Kilmacow Kilkenny.
Above: The 27th Butlerstown on the Melvin in Ballincollig '92.
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