Cycling to Celtic coins: Yorkshire stories to make you smile

3 days ago

Grace WoodYorkshire

News image — From triathlons to Celtic tribes: there were positive news stories across Yorkshire this week

BBC/David Duggleby Auctioneers Two images: on the left, Mark Burtonshaw faces the camera, dressed in athletic gear. One right, a small ancient gold coin with five dots across the top in a rectangular frame with an abstract depiction of a horse. — From triathlons to Celtic tribes: there were positive news stories across Yorkshire this week

Across Yorkshire, there are people doing amazing things every day of the week - and we want to highlight them.

From Bradford being selected as a Conde Nast Traveller wonder of the world for 2026 to a 2,000-year-old gold coin found in a field by a metal detectorist, there was positive news across Yorkshire this week.

Take a look below and enjoy some positive news stories from across BBC Yorkshire.

Bradford 'wonder of world'

LDRS A reservoir sits in a valley. The hills around it are picturesque and sunlit. — The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve is the only UK location to make the Condé Nast Travellers list for 2026

A nature reserve in Bradford has been named one of the seven wonders of the world for 2026 by Condé Nast Traveller's list.

The Bradford Pennine Gateway National Nature Reserve is the only UK location on list, alongside locations such as El Imposible National Park in El Salvador and the Faroe Islands.

Last May it was announced that sites including Ilkley Moor, Penistone Country Park, Shipley Glen and St Ives Estate would be designated as a new reserve.

North Yorkshire Council Ben McAuley and a number of primary-age pupils stand on wooden children's play equipment, in a playground. Mr McAuley wears a navy blue suit and a white shirt. He has short brown hair. The pupils wear blue sweatshirts, black trousers or skirts and white polo shirts. — Ben McAuley is a teaching assistant at South Kilvington C of E Academy in Thirsk

A man has spoken of his joy at securing his "dream job" as a teaching assistant, after overcoming the challenges he faced in his own school years.

Ben McAuley, 21, is autistic, and said he "always struggled" at school and didn't think it would be possible to achieve his goal of working in education.

Services offered by North Yorkshire Council helped him to gain the qualifications and experience needed to join South Kilvington C of E Academy in Thirsk.

David Duggleby Auctioneers A small ancient gold coin with five dots across the top in a rectangular frame with an abstract depiction of a horse is being held up in a woman's hand who has nails painted in a glittery dark green. — The 2,000-year-old coin was made by a Celtic tribe based in Lincolnshire

An "incredibly rare" 2,000-year-old gold coin, found in a field by a metal detectorist, has been sold at auction for £3,300.

The coin, which dates back to about 50-10 BC in the Iron Age period, was discovered in Lelley, East Yorkshire.

It is believed to be a variant of a Corieltauvi tribe gold stater, made by a Celtic tribe that occupied Lincolnshire.

The coin, which has five dots with a depiction of a horse below them, was found in what was the Iron Age territory of the Parisi tribe, who occupied an area of East Yorkshire.

A man who represented Team GB at a triathlon in Qatar said he was "really pleased" he took the opportunity to compete on an international stage.

Mark Burtonshaw, who lives near Thirsk, travelled to Lusail for the T100 Triathlon World Championships in December, competing in temperatures of up to 32C (90F).

The 67-year-old finished sixth in his age category after completing a 2km (1.24m) swim followed by an 80km (49.7m) bike ride and an 18km (11.18m) run.

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