THE leader of the biggest team ever to enter the Oxford Town & Gown run is looking to repeat the feat this year.

Personal trainer Barry Grinham led more than 100 runners around the 10km course last year, and is all set to turn up with another bumper team this year on Sunday, May 17.

Mr Grinham, who runs Prime Energy in Summertown, Oxford, has completed more than 10 Town & Gowns, raising thousands of pounds for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign which organises the event.

The 53-year-old, who has trained many celebrities, said: “We had 103 runners last year and I’m hoping to get near that again this year.

“In the past we’ve had Eddie Jordan, Richard Dunwoody, and F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen. This year, I’ve been working with Team Ireland in the A1 GP and I hope to get some of the drivers to take part.

“I know the chairman of Comic Relief, Peter Bennett-Jones, who lives in North Oxford, will be coming along this year.”

Speaking about his love of the Oxford Town & Gown event, Mr Grinham, who lives in Kirtlington, said: “I’ve lost count of the ones I’ve done, but it’s more than 10.

“For my team it’s also the start of training for the 2010 London Marathon. We start them on 10km runs and build up to half-marathons before eventually doing 26 miles.

“It’s a great event for them to get into and next year they can look back after doing the marathon and remember that it all began with the Town & Gown.”

He added: “People are great at raising money. They all do it individually and I don’t put pressure on them – they just turn up on the day with bags of money. It usually all adds up to a couple of thousand pounds.

“The race is a great occasion. It’s a great day for raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign and nine times out of 10 it’s a lovely morning.

“It gets lots of local people involved and the event is always superbly organised. The scenery and aesthetics of the course are fantastic and there’s always a great atmosphere.”

This year Mr Grinham will again be awarding the Prime Energy Trophy to the fastest team of fitness staff, which must be made up of three men and one woman or vice versa. Details of the trophy will be given to all entrants.

The Oxford Town & Gown run, now in its 28th year, follows a course around the city centre, including High Street and Cornmarket Street, before finishing in the University Parks. To enter visit oxfordtownandgown.org.uk