Hercules Wimbledon’s latest recruit has made a record-breaking start to his club life, despite suffering from a stinking cold.

Richard McDowell smashed the course record when he raced to victory in the Surrey Bacchus marathon at Denbies Vineyard, Dorking, on Sunday.

The 36-year-old, who only joined Hercules in the summer, won by more than 13 minutes in two hours 53 minutes eight seconds, taking six and a half minutes off the course record of 2.59:38.

He said: “This course is challenging. You need to be fit and well to start this race.

“My goals were to break the course record and to win. Both achieved. Having a stinking cold earlier in the week turned out not to be quite as much of a hindrance I had feared.”

Meanwhile, clubmate Claire Grima was the top women veteran over 35 finisher in the Bristol half marathon on Sunday in 1.23:04.

She finished just behind husband Dave, who clocked 1.22:28 to finish 121st. Competing in his first race over the distance since 2012, Ben Toomer posted a personal best of 1.15:07 in finishing 38th out of more than 7,200 runners in the men’s race – David Scrimshaw also beat his personal best in finishing 137th in 1.22:36.

At the Richmond Running Festival, Dominic Kiralfyi posted a personal best time in finishing third out of 2,800 runners in 1.11:27.

Veteran all-rounder Dave Orchard was also in record-breaking form when he took the veterans over 55 Surrey pentathlon title at the David Weir Leisure Centre on Saturday.

His total of 1,944 points is a new Hercules Wimbledon club record.