WOC Embargoes

[greywolf]

I am confused as to how the 'whole of Culbin in embargoed' but you 'can run there at Moray 2013' works

Well (purely hypothetically), how about this:

Culbin is a very big forest - big enough to stage an 18k classic using only half the mapped area - and the currently mapped area is only about 60% of the embargoed area.

So neither Moray 2013 nor WOC 2015 need the whole forest.

So maybe the two sets of organisers will discuss amongst themselves and come to an arrangement by which Moray 2013 uses one section of the forest and WOC 2015 uses another - so there is no overlap of areas used and therefore competitors at Moray 2013 will not enter the WOC 2015 area.

But until they have sorted that arrangement out (and maybe got it appproved by IOF?) the whole forest is under embargo.

[EddieH]

And it's my guess, following discussions on what the IOF believe to be suitable terrain for long distance, that Culbin will be being reserved with the middle distance in mind - requiring considerably less forest.

[plain lazy]

Though we tried our best (see http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/cap ... te/006720/ ) it was too late. The Cairngorms Business partnership are understandably unhappy as more of the income will go elsewhere. Unless capercaillie do very well or very badly = extinct it seems future Scottish 6 Days in Speyside are unlikely.

Surely this will affect more than just future 6 day festivals in Speyside? What about potential for Scottish Champs, our SOL series etc? Rothiemurcus isn't only estate where the capercaillie populate is it?

[madmike]

Anyone know what eats Capercallie and where do we get some?

[andy]

Anyone know what eats Capercallie and where do we get some?

shotguns certainly do

[EddieH]

I did query how on earth Speyside was going to be used for WOC when it was announced following my experiences in trying to get a venue for the Scottish relays a few years ago. I was led to believe that the prestige of the event would override the conservation concerns which struck me as double standards at best. It seems that there was no such likelihood - a lot of time need not have been spent on the unfeasable.

[AndyC]

i believe Golden eagles eat capercallie (if they get the chance) but I suspect the protection for them would be even more stringent

[mikey]

Anyone know what eats Capercallie and where do we get some?

Going by Freefall's post, a bit more dog walking at Rothiemurcus might be 'beneficial'.

[greywolf]

Anyone know what eats Capercallie and where do we get some?

Pine martens.
But their major enemy is deer, the out-of-control numbers of which have munched away the ground flora and reduced caper habitat. Caper also have a bit of a problem with deer fences.
Apparently they taste disgusting. They obviously aren't very appetising as one survived quite happily through January this year on a Nairn housing estate. Any longer and it would have got elected onto the Council.

Surely this will affect more than just future 6 day festivals in Speyside?

I think the restrictions are still seasonal, rather than absolute, and that October, say, wouldn't be a problem - but best to get that confirmed e.g. by Freefall

[Freefall]

Pine martens predate on capercaillie and they have been protected. Now that they are doing well it is theoretically possible to get a licence to kill (Ref: SNH_007) pine martens. Do note that there is a season to capercaillie restrictions - in theory you can hold an event anytime between 1 Sep - 28 Feb (or 29 Feb in a leap year) . The current (to be reviewed) agreement with the RSPB is on the SOA website. As you might have guessed Inshriach was favourite for Middle Distance/Classic races and Loch Vaa for Relays - both have capercaillie issues. Rothiemurchus Estate have not yet agreed to any orienteering on their area and had specifically opposed WOC plans! I am sure the new areas identified will give us scope (and you dear reader plenty of speculation) as to what the revised WOC2015 plans will be!

[King Penguin]

Anyone know what eats Capercallie and where do we get some?

Dogs, apparantly !

[Kneejerk]

Apparently they taste disgusting.

I know someone who had a caper for Christmas Dinner many years ago. Apparently it tasted of turpentine - due to its diet of pine needles.