Runners in this year's OX5 Run at Blenheim Palace are on course to raise a record £50,000 for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign.

Sunday saw more than 1,300 runners completed the five-mile course in bright sunshine to raise money for the charity.

The event, organised by the Oxford Mail and our sister paper, The Oxford Times, was so popular that the start of the race had to be delayed for a few minutes, as runners queued in their cars to get into the palace grounds.

More than 1,000 people signed up beforehand, including teams from dozens of businesses, but a further 300 signed up on the day.

The race was started by Dale Harris, 24, from Normandy Crescent, Cowley, and his daughter Mya, three.

Mya, who pressed the starting horn shortly after 10.30am, was born with spina bifida in 2002, and has already had at least six operations as a patient at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington.

Mr Harris, whose T-shirt carried a Running for my Girl' logo, said: "We have spent a lot of time at hospital with Mya, and she needed a lot of medical intervention from day one, so this cause is obviously very close to our hearts."

Last year's run attracted 720 people, and the event raised £20,000, but this year, the total amount raised is expected to be £50,000.

This will make a major contribution towards raising the final £2.5m from the community for the new hospital, which is set to open at the JR in January next year.

Race organiser Tom Mitchell said: "This is our best year ever and we have been absolutely overwhelmed by the response from the public. Once everyone gets their sponsorship through, we will be on target to raise £50,000."

Oxford Mail editor Simon O'Neill added: "It's a record entry this year by a long way and the event is going from strength to strength. We are really looking forward to next year."

Derek Holmes, the editor of The Oxford Times, who completed the race in 42 minutes, said: "The turnout has been incredible and it's quite staggering that 300 people have registered on the day. The OX5 Run has become a real fixture in the calendar."

Before the race, instructors from Oxford's David Lloyd Health and Fitness Centre held a warm-up for runners.

Competitors who raised £100 will receive a free OX5 T-shirt, those who raised £200 will get a jumper, and those who raised £300 will be given a fleece.

Les Newell, 30, from Abingdon Amblers, was first home in 27 minutes 53 seconds. He said: "I did the race four years ago. It was hard work, particularly on the downhill bits."

He overtook Tim Wright, 22, from Banbury Harriers, to win the race by just five seconds.

Mr Wright, from Harewood Road, Banbury, said: "It was tough. I was leading for the whole of the race and Les just went past me right at the end."

Richard Beaumont, 34, who runs for Woodstock Harriers, finished third in 28 minutes and four seconds.

He said: "I won the race three years ago. It was always tough going today and the conditions were testing."

Jill Smith, 24, from Ladygrove Court, came 10th and was the first woman over the finishing line, completing the race in 30 minutes and 15 seconds.

Ms Smith, who works as a vet, said: "I haven't been out training for a few months so I was very pleased with where I came in the race."

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