Two swimmers reach 50th Midmar Mile

FOR  many the aQuellé Midmar Mile has been a lifelong love affair with the water. This year the iconic KwaZulu-Natal event will mark a remarkable milestone for two of its most devoted participants: Jill “Quix” Quicke and George Watson, who are both preparing to take on the world’s largest open-water swimming event for the 50th time.

For Quix, the Midmar Mile has been a part of life since childhood. A member of the Seals Swimming Club in Pietermaritzburg, she first swam the race in 1975, the same year women were officially allowed to enter, lining up at just nine years old.

“My parents 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,” Quix 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, the event became a fixture on her calendar. She swam consecutively from grade four through matric, recording a personal best of 14th place in 21 minutes. University and provincial hockey commitments caused a brief hiatus, but Quix soon returned, often overcoming physical hurdles to keep her record alive.

“Since completing my degree, I have done the swim consistently just to keep my total ticking over,” she said. “In 2016 and 2017, I did the 8 Mile Challenge for the Save the Rhino fund. One year, I swam after being in hospital the day before with a kidney stone, and another year, I was on crutches following a major knee operation.”

Family has added a new dimension to her Midmar Mile journey in recent years.

“In 2019, I swam with my nine-year-old niece, Derryn Millward, for her first time. Since then, my niece, my sister Mary, and I have swam together most years. We’re going to try to keep together for the big one this year.”

Approaching her 50th swim, Quix, now based in Johannesburg, admits the milestone feels surreal.

“I find it hard to believe it is my 50th swim, as I don’t feel that old,” she said. “I think other people are more impressed with the milestone than I am, but it’s a good feeling. I am grateful to my family who have supported me for 49 years and to my good mates, the OWLS, who will be coming down from Johannesburg to join the family this year.”

George Watson’s Midmar story began a year later, in 1976, a pivotal year marked by marriage, a new job in finance, and his first Midmar swim.

“My goal was never about speed but about longevity. I wanted to attend as many Midmars as I could,” Watson said.

Among decades of memories, one standout performance remains etched in his mind: a 22-minute swim in the early 1980s, achieved despite starting late. He also recalls the extremes of the event; the 1978 storm that whipped up two-foot waves, forcing one water polo friend to give up after swallowing half the dam.

For the 77-year-old, Midmar has always been about connection.

“I made many friends through swimming and water polo, and Midmar was the one place I was sure to connect with them,” he said. “I have no particular goal for this swim; I’ll continue for as long as I can manage.”

The 2026 aQuellé Midmar Mile takes place from 5–8 February. Online entries have now closed, but swimmers can still register on the day at the dam, with early arrival recommended. More information is available at www.midmarmile.com.