September 5, 2007 — Emily Batty of Brooklin, Ont., the first Canadian rider at this week’s world mountain bike championships in Fort Williams, Scotland, finishing 10th on Wednesday in the women’s under-23 cross-country race.

“I had a great race,’’ said the 19-year-old making her MTB Worlds debut. “I didn’t set any goals in terms of results but I felt fit and ready to deliver a strong performance. To crack the top-10 is very satisfying.’’

Chinese riders were 1-2 with Liu Ying first in one hour and 45:23 minutes and Chengyuan Ren second three minutes and 31 seconds behind the winner. Elisabeth Osl of Austria was third 5:20 behind the winner. Batty’s final time was 1:57:10.

Batty wasn’t hampered by the driving rain. “˜’It was very wet but the track remained in very good condition. In fact, under the circumstances it couldn’t have been better.’’

In the junior women’s competition, Ariane Pichette of Quebec City was 21st. The 17-year-old finished 15:19 behind the winner Alla Boyko of Ukraine who clocked the 25.64 kilometre race in 1:25:14.

The competition continues until Sunday. On Thursday it’s the men’s junior cross-country race and on Friday the men’s under-23 event. The men’s and women’s elite cross-country races are on Saturday and the downhill races are set for Sunday.