Emilie Martinsen receives a $3,000 SSG Gloves bonus from Jennifer Ward after winning the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Classic on Saturday, March 26, at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot
Santiago Nunez Riva won a $4,000 bonus from SSG Gloves for his win in the $10,000 Amateur-Owner Classic on Sunday, March 27, at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Presenting from left to right are Ed James, Jennifer Ward, Cliff Haines and Lynda James. Photo by Sportfot

March 27, 2011 – Wellington, FL – Emilie Martinsen received a $3,000 bonus while Santiago Nunez Riva claimed $4,000 in the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion during week 11 of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

Martinsen has been a regular winner of the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic, having previously claimed victories during weeks three, seven, and eight. Martinsen and her mount, Gucci, won yet again on Saturday, March 26, when a $3,000 bonus was on the line. In total, Martinsen has claimed $7,000 in the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.

“I heard that no one had won the bonus since I last won it, so I really wanted to win the $3,000,” said Martinsen, who was competing for the final week at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. She will, however, return to her base outside of Brussels, Belgium, with a memento of her success in Wellington, thanks to the SSG Riding Gloves bonus money that she won.

“I just bought a pair of diamond earrings,” said Martinsen, 26, who rides for her native Denmark. “The bonus was a really good motivation.”

Yet another international rider, Santiago Nunez Riva of Spain, claimed a $4,000 bonus after winning the $10,000 Low Amateur-Owner Classic on Sunday, March 27, while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. His jump-off time of 31.12 seconds riding Jason de Carene, a 14-year-old selle francais stallion, was fast enough to take the win over Canada’s Karen Sparks and Victoria, who stopped the clock in 31.83 seconds.

“This morning Karen said, “I am going to try to win the bonus, but Santiago is going to be a tough competitor!”” said Riva of the rivalry between himself and Sparks, who both train with Ian, Jonathon and Amy Millar. “Our times were so close. I won by such a small difference.”

Of the SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion, Riva said, “I think it’s awesome because it is so simple. I don’t normally wear gloves when I ride, but I bought the gloves at the start of the circuit and I wore them in every Amateur-Owner Classic, and every time it rained. They are perfect! They don’t slide at all. They are such good gloves.”

SSG Riding Gloves is offering a total of $57,000 in cash bonuses for riders competing at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival running January 12 through April 3 in Wellington, FL. The SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion is offered in the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series, the Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic, and the Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic competitions.

Cash bonuses are given directly to the rider during the award presentations in front of the SSG Riding Gloves signature jump by either Ed James of SSG Riding Gloves or Jennifer Ward of Starting Gate Communications, who manages and handles publicity for the ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.

SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves are available for purchase at numerous Wellington locations, including Tackeria, as well as on-site at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds at Ann K. Hubbard’s Tack Store, Beval Saddlery, Collierville, Hadfield’s, Jod’s, Kocher, and Running Fox.

Please refer to the 2011 WEF Prize List for complete details. For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.