Photo gallery: Plaudits for young stars in Yorkshire

As a vintage year for Yorkshire draws to a close some of the greatest highs from the county's most determined young people were celebrated at Elland Road.
Nile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeNile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Nile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

The winners at last night’s Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation ceremony, hosted at Leeds’s Centenary Pavilion, included Rio Olympic and Paralympic heroes, rising stars from the world of performing arts and a Sheffield-born striker who had a hand in Leicester City’s astonishing Premier League victory.

Awards chairman Peter McCormick said: “These young people, from the Olympians to our unsung hero, typify the best in Yorkshire and we heard some terrific stories of dedication and grit during the evening. For example, I am sure we will be hearing more about our youngster of the year, Lucy Sherman, in years to come.”

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The personality of the year award went to four people – Paralympic cyclist Steve Bate, his sighted pilot Adam Duggleby, track cyclist Katy Marchant and gymnast Nile Wilson – who became the first Briton to win a gymnastics horizontal bar medal, claiming bronze.

Nile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeNile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Nile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Unsung hero winner Connor Lynes, 15, raised £5,000 for charities after devastating injury – first through a car crash and later a blood clot – cut short his rugby league hopes.

Youngster of the year Lucy Sherman, 11, who will appear in the forthcoming West Yorkshire Playhouse production of Strictly Ballroom, took home the youngster of the year award, and Avigail Collins, who is now stylist to pop star Rihanna, won the achievement in the arts award.

Former FC Halifax Town forward Jamie Vardy, who was not at the ceremony, was awarded the achievement in sport award for his role in taking Leicester City to the top of English football.

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Twins Emily and L-J Keston received the achievement in management award for establishing their own musical theatre business after appearing in numerous films and television programmes.

Nile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan GawthorpeNile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Nile Wilson and Katy Marchant. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Mr McCormick asked the audience to stand in memory of geriatrician Kate Granger, who campaigned for better patient care with the Twitter hashtag #hellomynameis after she was diagnosed with cancer. She also raised £250,000 for local cancer charity, the Yorkshire Cancer Centre Appeal before her death aged 34 in July.

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