The aQuellé Midmar Mile has always flowed like a living river of memory, carrying swimmers back to the same stretch of water year after year. In 2026, that river sparkles a little brighter as two of its most loyal currents, Jill “Quix” Quicke and George Watson prepare to dive in for a golden 50th time.
For Quix, Midmar has been stitched into her life like a well-worn swim cap. A Seals Swimming Club stalwart from Pietermaritzburg, she first crossed the dam in 1975, the very year women were officially allowed to compete. She was 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 meant Midmar was as inevitable as summer rain. From grade four to matric, she swam every year, slicing her way to a best finish of 14th in a swift 21 minutes. University and provincial indoor hockey briefly pulled her out of the water, but never for long.
“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.”
In recent years, Midmar has become a family relay.
“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.”
Quix finishes 1975 Midmar Mile
Now Johannesburg-based, Quix admits the milestone feels surreal.
“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.”
George Watson’s Midmar story began in 1976, another thread in the dam’s tapestry.
George Watson – Credit Action Photo SA
“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.”
Consistency, not speed, has been his compass.
“My goal was not to miss Midmar for as long as I was able.”
Still, one swim stands out.
“The year I did my best time, I started late and still managed a 22-minute swim. It was somewhere around 1982/3.”
The dam has shown him every mood.
“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.”
At 77, Watson keeps coming back for the human tide.
George Watson and family at 1978 Midmar Mile
“I made a lot of friends through swimming and water polo, and Midmar was the one place I was sure to connect with them.”
“I have no particular goal but will swim for as long as I can manage.”
As Quix and Watson prepare to enter the water once more, their stories ripple outward and provides living proof that Midmar is like a lifetime swim.
