Enduro for Beginners: Timecard & Hare and Hounds Explained

What is the difference between Timecard Enduro and Hare & Hounds?

If you are new to Enduro, some of the terminology can be confusing.

Two of the main formats you will come across in Scottish Enduro are Timecard Enduro and Hare & Hounds.

Before an event at Wooler, BRAAP Scotland caught up with Nick Jones for a quick explanation of how the two formats differ and what riders can expect when they turn up.

What is Timecard Enduro?

Timecard Enduro is built around riders following a route while keeping to a schedule.

Riders are given times to reach different checkpoints and need to manage their pace throughout the event.

Timed sections or tests are used to determine results, while the rest of the route connects the different parts of the event together.

This means Timecard Enduro is not simply about riding flat out for the entire day.

Riders need to manage their time, stay on schedule and still perform when they reach the timed sections.

What is Hare & Hounds?

Hare & Hounds uses a different format.

Rather than following a timecard between checkpoints, riders normally complete repeated laps of a marked off-road course over a set period of time.

The racing is more continuous, with different classes and ability levels sharing the course.

That means overtaking, line choice, fatigue and maintaining a consistent pace all become an important part of the event.

Which format is better for beginners?

There is no single answer because the two formats offer different experiences.

Some riders may prefer the more continuous nature of Hare & Hounds racing, while others enjoy the structure and navigation of a traditional Timecard Enduro.

For a beginner, the important thing is understanding what type of event you are entering before you arrive.

BRAAP Scotland has more Scottish Enduro guides, rider stories and information for anyone thinking about getting involved.

What can riders expect at their first Enduro?

Your first event can feel intimidating simply because so much of it is unfamiliar.

There may be signing-on, rider briefings, different classes, course markings and terminology that experienced competitors already understand.

But club-level events include riders with a wide range of experience.

Talking to organisers and other riders before the start can make the whole process much easier to understand.

Understanding the format makes the first event easier

Knowing whether you are entering a Timecard Enduro or Hare & Hounds event allows you to prepare properly.

The riding may still be challenging, but at least you know how the day is structured and what is expected of you.

For anyone considering their first Enduro, understanding these basic differences is a useful place to start.

Thanks to Nick Jones

A huge thank you to Nick Jones for taking the time before the Wooler event to explain the two formats and help make Scottish Enduro easier to understand for new riders.

Supported by MotoClean

This film was produced with support from MotoClean.

MotoClean supports BRAAP Scotland in producing Scottish Enduro guides, rider interviews and event coverage.

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