 Hartopp appeared in several matches for Cambridge University in both 1841 and 1842, including, in each of these seasons, the University Match against Oxford University.In his Cambridge games, he batted regularly at the tail-end of the batting order, and he does not appear to have bowled or kept wicket.From 1842 onwards, he started playing for Marylebone Cricket Club and he made 36 appearances for that team over the next 10 years; he also played in 1843 for Nottinghamshire and a team representing the Midland Counties, and he started appearing also for "Gentlemen of England" teams of amateurs which played various county sides or other amateur combinations.