White Rose will continue to be in full bloom in the year ahead

Yorkshire would have finished 17th in the final medal table at the Rio 2016 Olympics while Alistair Brownlee, Danny Willett, Nicola Adams, Kadeena Cox and Jamie Vardy gave the county four of the 16 finalists hoping to land this month’s BBC ‘Sports Personality Of The Year Award’.

But who is likely to burst on to the stage in shine in 2017 – a year featuring a World Athletics Championships in London and ending with the Ashes series in Australia?

Lee Sobot picks out 20 Yorkshire stars whom we could hear big thing about next year:

Matt Fitzpatrick:
(Golf, age 22)

Took November’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai for the biggest win of his career. The Sheffield golfer could be the next Danny Willett.

Kyle Edmund: (Tennis, 21)

The Beverley star enjoyed a breakthrough 2016, reaching the fourth round of the US Open and was only knocked out by Novak Dojokovic. Ends the year ranked 45th and could break into the top 20 in 2016.

Alexandra Bell: (Athletics, 800m, 24)

Finished the summer of 2016 fifth on the UK 800m rankings, having three times gone under the Olympic qualifying mark. Handed a place on the British Athletics world-class performance programme for 2017.

Oliver Lines: (Snooker, 21)

The Seacroft-born potter is quitely rising up the ranks and ends 2016 just outside the world’s top 50 in 54th.

Josh Warrington: (Boxing, 26)

Had a relatively quiet 2016 but has signed a new deal with Frank Warren and might finally get the featherweight world title shot he yearns for in 2017, possibly at Elland Road.

Reece Cartwright: (Boxing, 22)

Leeds boxer who does not have the same high profile as Warrington but who is already an IBF youth middleweight champion who has won all his 15 fights.

Dalton Smith: (Boxing, 19)

Part of GB Boxing’s Podium Potential squad and ended 2016 with victory in the GB Boxing Championships.

Lois Toulson: (Diving, 17)

turned 17 on Boxing Day and is already an Olympian, having partnered Tonia Couch in the 10m synchro at Rio 2016. Set to excel on the World Series in 2017.

Georgia Coates: (Swimming, 17)

Has a similar profile to Toulson, having made a very early Olympic debut in Rio. The breaststroke star looks destined for more glory next year.

Katy Marchant: 
(Cycling, 23)

Took bronze in the individual sprint at the Rio Olympics yet has only been cycling for for just over three years havibng started out as a heptathlete.

Adam McNamara: (Racing, 19)

Third in the Apprentice Jockeys Championship of 2016 behind two huge talents in Josephine Gordon and Tom Marquand. Looks bound to ride plenty of winners next season.

James Bree: 
(Football, Barnsley, 19)

Could be the next to follow John Stones and Mason Holgate out of Oakwell and into the Premier League. The teenager has excelled at full-back but looks equally capable of doing the same in midfield.

Ronaldo Vieira:
(Football, Leeds United, 18)

only 18 and has a long way to go before he lives up to such an exotic football name but the midfielder has been raising eyebrows at Elland Road with a host of impressive displays.

Tyler Denton: 
(Football, Leeds United, 21)

The left-back has only made one appearance for Leeds but is highly-rated and it is not difficult to see Denton becoming a first-team regular at the back end of 2017 given doubts about the future of first-choice Charlie Taylor.

George Hirst:
(Football, Sheffield Wednesday, 17)

The son of Owls legend David, has had only 13 minutes of first-team action but his scoring exploits in development football have excited the Hillsborough faithful.

Liam Mandeville: (Football, Doncaster Rovers, 19)

Has established himself as a key figure in Doncaster’s promotion push this season. Good awareness and excellent technical ability has put the striker on the radar of several clubs.

Matthew Fisher:
(Cricket, Yorkshire, 19)

The pace bowler was plagued by injuries last summer but has since returned to action in Australia and has been turning out for Adelaide Cricket Club. Viewed as a key prospect at Yorkshire, particularly with the likes of Ryan Sidebottom approaching retirement.

Matthew Waite:
(Cricket, Yorkshire, 20)

The young all-rounder showed his quality with a fine performance in Yorkshire’s Royal London Cup semi-final match against Surrey and is a player to look out for.

Will Rhodes:
(Cricket, Yorkshire, 21)

Finished the season on loan at Essex but all-rounder Rhodes will be hoping to kick-on at Yorkshire in 2017 and fulfil his potential with bat and ball.

Jack Ormondroyd: (Rugby league, Leeds Rhinos, 25)

Son of former Bradford City and Aston Villa striker Ian has signed from Featherstone Rovers and looks to have a big future in Super League.