CHANNEL swimming stars from Weymouth were honoured with prestigious awards in front of the sport's top names.

Veteran coach Tom Watch and swimmer Kate Mason were unaware they were in line for trophies until they arrived at the Channel Swimming Association annual dinner in Dover.

Kate, 42, of Buxton Road, completed her first crossing in August, 50 years to the day after her coach Tom's first swimmer set off for France.

He was recognised as one of the sport's greatest coaches with a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to channel swimming.

Among the countless swimmers he's trained have been Phil Gollop, who runs the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy and who attempted a two-way crossing, as well as the quickest swimmer Chad Huntersby and youngest, Samantha Druce, 12.

One of his most notable was Boston man Peter Jurzynski, for which Tom received a letter of congratulation from Senator Edward Kennedy.

Tom, 75, of St Leonard's Road, said: "I had no idea about the award. Kate went up for hers and then suddenly they pulled this one out. Luckily we'd had a drink and it wasn't too much of a shock."

Nurse and swimming coach Kate was awarded quickest crossing this year for an English woman - and also the prestigious Sonny Trophy for the oldest woman to cross this year.

Kate said: "I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. But it was lovely to meet Sonny Lowrie, who was the first woman to cross in 1933 and who presented the award. It came as a complete surprise."

Also at the dinner was the so-called King of the Channel, Kevin Murphy, who has completed 32 crossings.

Kate, who managed the gruelling 21-mile stretch in 14 hours, said: "I still can't believe I've done it. We took a ferry across recently and it's a long way! It's all a bit of a blur, but it's a good feeling having done it. You get the feeling you should be doing something else."

She has her eye on a round-Jersey swim and a two-way crossing of Lake Windermere in the Lake District.