In October following, Wood undertook to run twenty miles in two hours and a quarter, which he performed on the Brighton course with great facility in two hours, five minutes, and a few seconds. He ran the first ten miles in one hour and one minute, which turned the betting in his favour; for at starting, it was greatly against him. A few days afterwards, he ran a quarter of a mile in a minute, and performed it with apparent ease about a second within the time. On Thursday the 16th of April 1807, this noted pedestrian ran forty miles over Newmarket heath, in four hours and fifty-six minutes, being four minutes within the time allowed to perform the match. He ran the first eight miles in forty-eight minutes, and the first twenty miles in two hours and seven minutes. The stake, it is said, was five hundred guineas; and, during the race, the odds were two and three to one in his favour. He ran without shoes or stockings, and had only a pair of flannel drawers, and a jacket upon him. He did not at any time appear to be fatigued, and few of the riders were able to keep their horses up with him. Wood’s next sporting performance was his match with Captain Barclay, in which he failed. But as a particular account of that match shall be given, when we treat of Captain Barclay’s performances, it is not requisite at present to notice it farther. On the 12th of May 1809, Wood gained a severe and well contested race with Shipley from Nottinghamshire. It was run over Knutsford Heath--the distance four hundred and forty yards, which was performed in fifty-six seconds; and so close were the competitors, that the judges were for some time doubtful to which of them they should assign the stake, (being two hundred guineas); but finally it was determined in favour of Wood. On the 9th September 1811, Wood ran a two-mile match with Joseph Beal, which he lost, as previously mentioned in page 76. Of all the celebrated pedestrians of the present day, Captain Barclay is deservedly the most famous, both from the variety and difficult accomplishment of his performances;--and the next Chapter shall be devoted to his astonishing exploits, of which a particular and faithful account shall be presented to the reader. N. B.--The Author is indebted chiefly to the _Sporting Magazine_, which is an entertaining and valuable publication, for the particulars relative to the pedestrians whose performances are recorded in this and the previous chapter. TABLE containing the Names of the Pedestrians, the Distances they performed, and the Time they required, with the Year of performance, &c. _Year_ _Name_ _Dist._ _Days_ _Hrs._ _Min._ _Sec._ _Pag._ _Miles_ _Yards_ 1788 Mr. John Batty, 700 13 19 48 1773 -- Foster Powell, 396 6 45 1778 -- Foster Powell, 390 5 19 15 46