October 4, 2003 (Toronto, ON) – In her first year racing combined junior
expert category, fifteen-year-old Emily Batty has won four Canada Cup events
and a National Championship title this season. On Saturday night, the OCA
honoured her with the Female Athlete of the Year award at the OCA/Gears
Racing year-end party.

A roadie and a mountain biker, Batty prefers the trails to the road. Her
determination and focus as a rider is admirable. During her MTB race at
nationals this year she opened up a one-minute gap on the competition in the
first lap. A mechanical slowed her down and put her in fourth place by the
time the problem was fixed. Batty hoped back onto her bike and chased down
the leaders. In the end, the youth won by more than a minute and earned
herself a national title.

Batty is too young to race internationally as a junior, being only fifteen,
howeve she plans to race with the senior elite women next year in
regional and national events.