Ross pupils are rocking and rolling

CREATIVE youngsters from across Ross wowed packed audiences and judges alike at the Highlands’ top arts venue this week with dazzling Rock Challenge performances.

Alness Academy narrowly pipped close neighbours Invergordon in the first heat, again establishing Easter Ross as force to be reckoned with in the global challenge credited with channelling children towards positive spare time activities and helping mould them into responsible citizens.

Coulhill Primary won their Tuesday night J Rock Challenge heat, showing Alness’s strength in depth while youngsters from Dingwall made an impressive debut. Previous winners Dingwall Academy, already through to the Scottish finals, also gave the Eden Court audience a showcase performance.

The Alness Academy performance, One Six Seven Remembered, was dedicated to the 167 men who lost their lives in the Piper Alpha oil platform disaster on June 6, 1988.

Bill Alexander, director of learning and care at Highland Council, described the event as "stunning", adding: "It shows how the young people have worked hard throughout the year to pull off performances like that and it is just remarkable."

The children of Coulhill Primary won their heat of the J Rock Challenge for primary schools with London’s A Blaze.

Set in the capital in 1666 when the plague was rife within the streets of the city, it tells of a baker who is separated from his family by the blaze.

Cromarty Firth councillor Carolyn Wilson said: "I’m absolutely delighted for all of them and so proud of the tremendously talented kids in this ward.

"It’s a great scheme which teaches responsibility and helps make children better citizens.

"They need to be disciplined, work hard and turn up for rehearsals on time.

"The themes they tackle are sometimes difficult and they do brilliantly getting them across to the audience."

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