A FORMER Tavistock College pupil is recovering after successfully swimming the English Channel in just under 14 hours following three years of training.
Kate Mason, who is 42 and used to live at Weir Quay, was inspired to attempt the marathon swim by a long-distance swimming coach where she now lives in Weymouth — Tom Watch.
She took part in a relay channel swim for the Breakthrough cancer charity in 1996 and decided she could tackle a solo attempt.
'It was Tom and the relay attempt that planted the seed in my mind,' Kate said.
'I attempted the swim in 1998, but didn't quite make it. Then I did long relay swims in the USA and trained to have another go last year — but the weather was so rough I couldn't even set off.'
This year the weather was kinder, and Kate was able to start the long-distance swim on August 14 after only having to wait in Dover for a few days for the conditions and tide to be right.
'You have to be patient to wait for the right moment, but a good window of weather appeared. The crossing was pretty tiring and I ached in parts I didn't know I had, but it was quite a nice day and the aches and pains are getting better each day now,' said Kate.
Kate's mother, Margaret Pawlowski, who lives in Dousland, said she was 'greatly relieved' that the years of training had been successful.
Margaret, who accompanied Kate on one of her trips to the States last year, described her as 'a great girl, who puts her heart and soul into whatever she does.'
Tom Watch, is now retiring after being involved with 200 channel swimmers, of which Kate was the last.
Carlton TV filmed Kate as part of an item about him.