January 18, 2005 – Cycling BC proudly awards the Joe Hailey Memorial Award for 2004 to Naomi Cooper. As a first year junior in 2004, Naomi won the Junior BC Road Championships, and medaled (silver) at the National Road Championships and again (silver) in the 2000m Individual Pursuit at the Track Nationals. Naomi represented her country, and British Columbia, at both Road and Track World Championships in 2004.

This Award was established in 2003, in memory of Joe Hailey, a fixture on the BC road and track cycling scene for over 20 years. The Joe Hailey Award is granted annually to both provide recognition and financial help to a young athlete attending Road and/or Track Nationals. The winner of this Award is recognized as one of the top young athletic prospects for the sport of cycling in BC. Each year the award is presented to either a second year Cadet, successfully upgraded to Junior age category, or a first year Junior, to help offset travel costs to the National Road or Track Championships. The dollar amount of the award varies by year, depending on travel costs to the National Championship(s). Seed funding for this award was provided by the estate of Joe Hailey. Additional funds for the Joe Hailey Award have been raised through the Joe Hailey Stage Race, hosted by dEVo (the development team of the Escape Velocity Cycling Club) and through donation. Cycling BC manages this award through the Road, Track & Cyclocross High Performance Committee. Additional donations to this award through Cycling British Columbia are gratefully accepted. The winner of this Award in its first year was second year Cadet, Scott Crump, who received $500 to help attend the 2003 National Track Championships in Quebec, and who subsequently won two Junior National titles. With both Road and Track Nationals in BC in 2004, the award is less ($100) while the recognition is equally well deserved. Congratulations to Naomi and thanks to all those who have contributed to this award.