IT is always fantastic to see young sport stars from the region excel, and recently we have been spoilt by our talented youngsters with bright futures ahead.

Kicking off the week was Harry Tanfield, who defied all odds and expectations to become the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de Yorkshire during the 182-kilometre stage from Beverley to Doncaster.

The flat terrain for the last 90km looked tailor-made for big name sprinters including Mark Cavendish, but Great Ayton’s Tanfield used the skills shown in winning time trial silver in the Commonwealth Games last month to take victory on South Parade. Seriously impressive stuff, and the icing on the cake for the tour that a Yorkshire lad should win one of the stages.

This week we have also reported on Cundall Manor School student Matt Greenwood, 16, who has Silverton in his sights after he and teammate Sarah Moore had a debut to remember at Rockingham Motor Speedway back in April.

The pair took first and third-place finishes and now hope the second round of the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship at Silverston will be just as successful.

The York teenager also has his GCSEs coming up, but he said he’s committed to his sport as well as his studies. Spectator wishes him the best of luck – for the exams and the driving.

Finally, this week we have also heard of the success of Ripon karate studio, the Karate Dojo.

The centre produced four bronze medallists, aged 11 to 16, in the recent 9th World Shotokan Karate Championships and hopes to make Olympians in Japan 2020. Here's hoping their ambition is achieved.