Hercules Wimbledon Athletic Club's marathon running couple, David and Claire Grima, posted the best times of their lives at the London marathon on Sunday.

However, despite clocking almost identical times, they did not see each other until after the finish.

This was because Claire was competing in the British Championship starting at Blackheath and David started in Greenwich Park.

Next year they will both be able to compete in the British Championship, as David improved his personal best by almost four minutes to get inside the qualifying standard for the championship event.

However, in the family battle, it was 37-year-old Claire, competing in the London race for the ninth time, who sneaked the bragging rights two hours 44 minutes 51 seconds to finish 13th in the British women's championship.

Her time took exactly a minute off her previous best as well as the Hercules Wimbledon women's record set last year, and it was just one second faster than husband David.

He shattered his previous best of 2.48:35 set last year and clocked the fifth fastest veterans over-35 time ever recorded by a Hercules Wimbledon runner.

Claire said: "Conditions today were ideal for running although it was quite cold at the start."

Husband David said: "I'm pleased we will be able to start together next year. Although we clocked almost identical times I didn't see Claire during the race."

Best of more than 20 Hercules Wimbledon runners in the marathon was Joe Clark who finished just outside the first 100 in 2.33:35, to chop five minutes 34 seconds off his previous best.

Dominic Kiralyfi made an impressive marathon debut finishing 231st in 2.37:59 with clubmate Rob Tuer 448th in 2.44:28.

Over-45 veteran Tom Cheetham finally managed to break the three-hour barrier as he clocked 2.59:37.

Gina Galbraith also made a fine marathon debut as she finished just outside the top 450 in the women's race in 3.20:37, with Caroline Jackson not far behind in 3.21:03.

One Hercules Wimbledon runner, Ben Green, managed to get into the Guiness Book of Records.

Green, who is a first-claim member of Warrington, finished 62nd in 2.30:20 and with his dad Graham not far behind in 2:32:01 finishing top veteran over 50, their combined times were recognised as the fastest father and son combination.

Isabelle Ellis was the highest placed of the 32 Hercules Wimbledon runners in the mini marathon finishing 14th out of 230 runners to help Hammersmith & Fulham to take silver team medals.

Amelia Casey, finishing 76th, was a member of the bronze medal-winning Wandsworth team.

Alex Abrahams was a member of the silver medal-winning Wandsworth boys' U13 team finishing 38th out of 240 runners.

Daniel Illis, who was 35th, was the first Richmond finisher.

Ben Tatters led Richmond to the silver team medals in the boys' U15 race finishing 19th out of 224 runners.