Funny Incidents

Squire Osbaldeston's Pedestrian Wager Between Cricket Matches — November 1818

1818-11-05n/aPedestrian wager: George Osbaldeston walks 200 miles in 36 hours, near London, November 18181 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

In November 1818, between his cricket and hunting seasons, George Osbaldeston walked 200 miles in 36 hours on Newmarket Heath for a wager of 1,000 guineas. The feat — completed inside the time, with Osbaldeston resting only twice — was reported across the sporting press and is the most famous of his many cross-disciplinary athletic exploits. It is a piece of the Regency sporting culture that linked cricket to pedestrianism, prize-fighting and turf.

Background

Pedestrianism — long-distance walking against time and money — was a major Regency sport. Osbaldeston's feat was one of the most famous of the period.

What Happened

Osbaldeston was a comprehensive Regency sportsman — cricket, hunting, prize-fighting, real tennis, racing, pedestrianism. The November 1818 wager was for 1,000 guineas a side, against the leading London bookmakers. He walked a 200-mile course on the Newmarket roads and surrounding tracks, completing it in 35 hours and 50 minutes — under the 36-hour limit. The feat earned him the wager and consolidated his reputation as the most versatile sportsman of the age.

Timeline

1810

Osbaldeston's cricket debut

1818

Barred from MCC committee; pedestrian wager in November

Jun 1819

All-comers cricket challenge

1831

Famous 200-mile horse ride at Newmarket — repeats the feat in another discipline

Aftermath

Osbaldeston returned to cricket in 1819 with the all-comers single-wicket challenge.

⚖️ The Verdict

A piece of Regency cross-discipline sporting flamboyance — and a glimpse of the world cricket inhabited.

Legacy & Impact

The November 1818 walk is one of the most-cited episodes in Regency sporting history. It illustrates the cross-discipline character of the period's elite sportsmen — figures whose cricket careers were embedded in a wider sporting life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Osbaldeston really walk 200 miles?▾
Yes — extensively documented in the sporting press of November 1818 and corroborated by independent witnesses at the timing posts.

Tags

#regency-cricket#underarm#george-osbaldeston#pedestrianism#wagers#1818#funny

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