Yorkshire’s standard bearers to raise the pulse rate in 2016

Looking for a name to follow in 2016? Here, Lee Sobot and the rest of The Yorkshire Post’s sports team have given you a list of 20 names, from the obscure to the obvious, to get behind next year.
Graphic: Graeme Bandeira.Graphic: Graeme Bandeira.
Graphic: Graeme Bandeira.

YORKSHIRE was famed for its success at the London 2012 Olympics. Four years on, the White Rose will be looking to bloom in similar fashion at the Rio 2016 Olympics next summer.

But 2016 is not just about the Games in South America.

Be it Olympics or otherwise, here is a selection box of Yorkshire-based stars we think might grab the headlines in 2016.

Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill competing in 2015. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill competing in 2015. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
Great Britain's Jessica Ennis-Hill competing in 2015. (Picture: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
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1 Jessica Ennis-Hill (heptathlon, Sheffield): Impossible to leave out, no matter how established the 29-year-old athlete has already become. Reigning world and Olympic champion will lead from the front in Rio just two years after giving birth to son Reggie.

2 Josh Warrington (boxing, Leeds): Already a star as Commonwealth, European and WBC International featherweight champion but 2016 could be his biggest year yet with all roads leading to a world title fight against IBF world champion Lee Selby at Elland Road in the summer. .

3 Jack Laugher (diving, Harrogate): One of Leeds and Yorkshire’s strongest medal prospects for Rio. Still only 21, the 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist scooped a double world championships bronze in Kazan this year plus a World Series gold.

4 Lois Toulson (diving, Huddersfield): British 10m platform champion, junior European champion and junior world silver medallist at just 16 years of age. Battling older, bigger names Sarah Barrow and Tonia Couch for a shot at Rio 2016.

Yorkshire's Jack Laugher during the Men's 1m Springboard Diving at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.Yorkshire's Jack Laugher during the Men's 1m Springboard Diving at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Yorkshire's Jack Laugher during the Men's 1m Springboard Diving at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
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5 Nile Wilson (gymnastics, Leeds): World Championships team silver medallist who will be all set for his first Olympics at the age of 20.

6 Vicky Holland (triathlon, Leeds): All eyes from a Yorkshire triathlon perspective will be on Alistair and Jonny Brownlee but 29-year old Vicky is already a Commonwealth Games gold medallist who has already met the selection criteria for Rio. Can become a household name.

7 Holly Woodhead (eventing, York): Still only 21, made her Team GB debut at this year’s European Championships at Blair Castle after wining Bramham’s CCI under-25s. Big future ahead, possibly even Rio 2016.

8 Georgia Coates (swimming, Leeds): The 16-year-old from the City of Leeds is waiting to burst on to the international stage and has already taken Junior Europeans and Junior Worlds/Commonwealths by storm.

Liam Sutcliffe has big shoes to fill in 2016.Liam Sutcliffe has big shoes to fill in 2016.
Liam Sutcliffe has big shoes to fill in 2016.
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9 Luke Ferrara (ice hockey, Sheffield): Now in his second season with Sheffield Steelers, the 22-year-old forward is widely regarded as the next British breakthrough player.

10 Lewie Coyle (football, Leeds): The latest youngster to break into the Leeds United first team from the club’s thriving Academy. The 20-year-old right back’s first-team opportunities will be further fast-tracked if Sam Byram moves on.

11 Lewis Cook (football, Leeds): Bournemouth are the latest club to be strongly linked and a bid is believed to be imminent in January. In the mould of those other impressive graduates from Leeds United’s Academy, Cook looks set to join Aaron Lennon, James Milner and Fabian Delph as a Premier League regular.

12 Harry Chapman (football, Middlesbrough): The winger, just 17, is rated as a real star in the making at the Riverside. Scored two wonder goals against Torino to help Boro U19s to the in the Uefa Youth League play-offs for the first time.

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13 James Bree (football, Barnsley): The Wakefield lad, 18 earlier this month, is very highly rated at Barnsley, whose much-vaunted academy has produced the likes of John Stones and Mason Holgate.

14 Harry Middleton (football, Doncaster): The Doncaster Rovers midfielder, 20, from Hatfield Woodhouse, is blossoming under Darren Ferguson, who is not afraid to blood youth, like his famous father. High time one or two Rovers youngsters stepped out of the shadows and signs are encouraging in regard to Middleton.

15 Matt Fisher (cricket, York): Became the youngest ever county player at 15 years and 212 days to play in a competitive fixture in 2013 and the York teenager, who only turned 18 in November, has prodigious potential. Tim Bresnan reckons Fisher will become ‘an unbelievable bowler’ for Yorkshire.

16 Liam Sutcliffe (rugby league, Leeds): The Leeds Rhinos stand-off, 21, has big boots to fill as he steps in for the legendary Kevin Sinfield. He showed enough this year, though, before injury struck, to demonstrate he has everything required.

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17 Jack Logan (rugby league, Hull): The 20-year-old centre made an instant impact last season and, having displaced veteran Kirk Yeaman from Hull’s No 4 jersey, is expected to flourish further in 2016. Fast, elusive, great hands, a quality finisher and, thankfully, English, he is a three-quarter with genuine class.

18 Jack Walker (rugby union, Keighley): Yorkshire Carnegie’s 19-year-old hooker is already a first-team regular and has captained his club. But if they are to push on and challenge for promotion, they will need the Keighley lad to take a grip for them in 2016.

19 Matt Fitzpatrick (golf, Sheffield): Recorded 10 top-10 finishes in his rookie season and won his first title. At this rate of progress he could make his Ryder Cup debut in September alongside another Sheffielder, Danny Willett.

20 Jack Garritty (racing, Malton): After narrowly losing out in the race to be champion apprentice, the Malton jockey, attached to the in-form yard of Richard Fahey, will be hoping to become established as one of the couhntry’s top Flat riders.

Anyone else you think will make a name for themselves in 2016? Let us know in the comments section below or on Twitter via @YPSport