The aQuellé Midmar Mile has always been an event where memories have been made and milestones reached, with generations returning each year to the same famous stretch of water.
In 2026, that rich history will be celebrated in a remarkable way, with Jill “Quix” Quicke and George Watson both preparing to take on the world’s largest open-water swimming event for the 50th time.
For Quix, the Midmar Mile has been part of her life since childhood. A member of Seals Swimming Club in Pietermaritzburg, she first swam the iconic race in 1975, the same year women were officially allowed to enter for the first time, lining up at the start at just nine years old.
“My parents said they thought I was good enough to swim the Midmar Mile. My dad took me up to the dam, as my mom was too nervous, in case I never came out the other side,” she recalled. “The entire girls’ race was about 150 people. We all started together and you had as long as you liked to get across. I think I took 47 minutes.”
Growing up in Pietermaritzburg made the event a fixture on her calendar, and she went on to swim the race consecutively from grade 4 through to matric, recording a best finish of 14th place in 21 minutes.
Although university and provincial indoor hockey commitments caused her to miss a couple of years, Quix soon returned, often overcoming physical challenges to make sure she kept her record going.
“Since completing my degree, I have done the swim consistently just to keep my total ticking over. In 2016 and 2017 I did the 8 Mile Challenge for the Save the Rhino fund. I swam one year, after being in hospital the day before with a kidney stone and one year, where I was on crutches following a big knee operation.”
Family has become central to her Midmar experience in recent years.
“In 2019, I swam with my nine-year-old niece, Derryn Millward, for her first time. Since 2019 my niece, my sister, Mary Millward and I have swum together most years, and we are going to try and keep together for the big one this year.”
Approaching her 50th swim, Quix, who is now based in Johannesburg, admits the milestone still feels unreal.
“I am finding it hard to believe it is my 50th swim as I don’t feel that old, but I am aware that nowadays I have to put in a bit of training to ensure that I can get across,” she explained.
“I think other people are more impressed with the milestone than I am, but it is a good feeling to think about the achievement. I am grateful to my family who have supported me for 49 years and to my good mates (called the OWLS) who will be coming down from Johannesburg to join the family in the support this year.”
Meanwhile, Watson’s Midmar Mile story began in 1976, a pivotal year in his life.
“A special year for three reasons,” he explained. “Firstly, it's the year I got married, started a new job in finance and swam my first Midmar.”
He has been a regular at the famous Kwa-Zulu-Natal dam since then. But longevity, rather than numbers, has always been his focus.
“My goal was not to miss Midmar for as long as I was able,” he said.
While there have been decades of memories created, one performance remains particularly memorable.
“The year I did my best time, I started late and still managed a 22-minute swim. It was somewhere around 1982/3.”
Watson also recalls the extremes of the event over the last 50 years.
“There was a huge storm in 1978 and waves of at least 2ft,” he recalled. “A water polo friend gave up after swallowing half the dam. When we got home, Pietermaritzburg was a shambles with trees blown over etc.”
For the 77-year-old, like with so many others who return each year, Midmar has always been about connection.
“I made a lot of friends through swimming and water polo, and Midmar was the one place I was sure to connect with them.”
As he reaches his 50th swim, Watson has no plans to hang up his goggles just yet.
“I have no particular goal but will swim for as long as I can manage,” he reckoned.
Online entries for the 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile, which takes place from 5-8 February, have now closed. Those still wishing to enter can do so at the dam on the day but are encouraged to arrive as early as possible. For more information, head to www.midmarmile.com
Top image: George Watson (L) and Midmar Mile founder Mike 'Buthie' Arbuthnot
Pictured below clockwise from top left:
Quix finishes 1975 Midmar Mile
Quix and niece Derryn in 2019
George Watson
George Watson and family at 1978 Midmar Mile
Photo credits: Action Photo SA
