Rockley was a household name in Highveld sport in the late 1980s, which saw him receive recognition alongside the more mainstream SA sporting celebrities. In this installment, Rockley relates some non-triathlon highlights of his career:
"Some other fond memories include:
"Being invited to compete in the Toyota Celebrity Challenge motor racing at Kyalami.
This included practicing, then qualifying for the national final. I managed to
win both my qualifying round and the final. I was great racing against the likes
of Francois Pienaar.
This included practicing, then qualifying for the national final. I managed to
win both my qualifying round and the final. I was great racing against the likes
of Francois Pienaar.
" Receiving an invitation to the Super C Super Sportsman competition and managing to win it.
Even more memorable was beating the two national footballers, Marks
Maponyane and Shane MacGregor in the football event, Richard Snell and
Hansie Cronje in the cricket and two time Olympic champion Daley
Thompson overall (even though for political reasons he was formally declared
tied first with me, a crock of s!@t, as he did not fully complete the final
obstacle course and should have received no points for the last event, which
would have left him well off the pace). I then proceeded to lose the 1000m track race to
Hansie Cronje. Daley asked me before the 1000m what I thought I was
capable of running and I said about not much more than about 2:50, but
probably more like 3 minutes. So, when the gun went and I took off at 3 min.
pace and after 400m I thought all was good. But Hansie had other ideas. With
600m to go, he kicked away like a 'madman' and I let him go thinking there was
no way in hell he could keep that up. Well history will tell you that with 200m
to go he was still 30m ahead and I kicked hard but too late. He held me
off by a second. His time was 2:49.
"· Being awarded the State Presidents Sports Merit Award."
