A BRIEF HISTORY

It all started back in the early eighties in Sydney, Australia as a local drama competition. As interest waned, a local radio station became involved. Interest later waned again! In 1988, Peter Sjoquist and Kerry Hayes injected a more professional approach and began to spread it continent-wide. Now Peter Sjoquist is spreading the message worldwide.

In any one year as many as 40,000 Australian students from 400 schools might perform in over 80 shows to total audiences of over 120,000 people. The TV Specials there are watched by an estimated one in three of fifteen - to - eighteen year olds.

In 1995, Inspector Mark Pontin of the Hampshire Constabulary saw the Australian Rock Eisteddfdod Challenge and was so impressed that he persuaded the constabulary to introduce it to their area of the UK in 1996: one Event, 11 schools, 800 students, 1,600 in the audience.

UK Rock Challenge has expanded ever since. The 2007 UK Calendar carried 33 Event Days and 5 Finals, 261 secondary school/college team performances, 19961 student appearances, and performances by no less than 40 Primary school teams too !

PRESENTED IN 2008 BY THE BE YOUR BEST FOUNDATION