Winning performance for youngsters from Bognor

The 34 performers clinched the best staging title in the annual Rock Challenge contest. Many of them had never been on a stage before.

The judges' comments about their performance by youngsters were complimentary. One remarked that the entry was very professional.

The Rock Challenge is aimed at showing young people how they can enjoy themselves without the need to resort to alcohol or drugs. This was the first year that the four feeder schools to Bognor Regis Community College had joined together under the title of the college's primary partnership to enter the competition's junior version.

The organisers toured the junior schools '“ Nyewood, Laburnum Grove, Rose Green and Michael Ayres '“ last September to introduce them to the Rock Challenge.

Any child who wanted to be involved went along to weekly sessions at the Arena sports centre to learn the piece.

This was an eight minute performance of dance and drama, called The Forgotten Children, about street children. They were up against six other entries.

The performers enjoyed themselves putting on their entry at the Portsmouth Guildhall before an audience of 1,800.

Rock Challenge is organised by the Be Your Best Foundation. Development manager Natalie Buckley said: 'It's clear to see that all the schools involved had put in a huge amount of time and effort and the results were stunning.'