July 8, 2013 – Langley, BC – Eliza Hunt of Delta, BC, dominated the $1,500 Dexter Associates Realty Canadian Hunter Derby to earn a $1,000 bonus as part of the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion.  Held Friday, July 5, during the Western Family competition at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, Hunt scored a hat trick by placing first, second and third.

Now in its third year at Thunderbird Show Park, the ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion sees Canadian glove manufacturer SSG Gloves offering a total of $12,000 in bonus money to reward both hunter and jumper riders for their loyalty to the SSG brand.

Hunt earned a near perfect score of 97 to secure the win over 29 entries in the $1,500 Dexter Associates Realty Canadian Hunter Derby.  It was only her fourth competition with Rubinus, a 13-year-old Oldenburg stallion by Rubenstein owned by Jennifer and Armin Arnoldt of Dreamscape Farm in Langley, BC, that she began riding in December.

Just a single point behind, Hunt and Farscape DSF, a six-year-old Westphalian stallion by Freestyle and also owned by Dreamscape Farm, finished second with a score of 96.  Hunt and Kalan, a nine-year-old Thoroughbred-cross owned by Pat Dumont of Langley, BC, finished third with 91 points.

“The SSG Bonus is a fantastic program,” said Hunt, who was picking up her second bonus cheque from SSG Gloves this season.  “I love the ‘Digital’ gloves and would wear them even without the added incentive of the bonus.  They’re comfortable, breathable and classy.”

A true fan of SSG Gloves, Hunt added, “What makes SSG Gloves different are the soft comfort and the variety of styles offered.”

Hunt previously claimed a $1,000 SSG bonus after winning the $2,500 Dexter & Associates Canadian Hunter Derby riding her own Amigo during the CSI2*-W BC Open held May 29 to June 2 at Thunderbird Show Park.

A $1,000 bonus was also on offer to the winner of the $10,000 Facet Advisors Grand Prix.  Winner Gary Brewster was wearing no gloves at all as he guided Billy Cevelle to victory.  However, to show his appreciation for SSG’s sponsorship, Brewster donned a pair of SSG ‘Digitals’ for the awards ceremony.  Having not been awarded, the bonus money now doubles to $2,000 for the next show jumping event in the series, the $55,000 CSI2* Fort Classic Grand Prix on Sunday, August 18.

For 2013, SSG Gloves increased the bonus money offered in Thunderbird Show Park’s hunter derby competitions from $500 to $1,000.  As in the past, a $1,000 bonus is also on offer to the winner of designated grand prix show jumping classes.  If the winning rider in any designated event is wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the horse head logo clearly visible in all rounds of competition, they will be presented with a bonus cheque in front of the SSG signature jump during the awards presentation.

The following events are still to come in the 2013 SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion at Thunderbird Show Park:

CSI2* Fort Classic – August 14 – 18
$15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby – Saturday, August 17
$55,000 CSI2* Fort Classic Grand Prix – Sunday, August 18

CSI2*-W Fort Festival – August 21 – 25
$5,000 Fairweather Farms Child/Adult-Amateur Hunter Derby – Sunday, August 25
$100,000 CSI2* Canaccord Genuity World Cup Grand Prix – Sunday, August 25

SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves are available for purchase on-site at Thunderbird Show Park at the Thunderbird Tack Shop, The Dog and Pony Shop, Equestrian Factory Outlet, Equi-Products, and Greenhawk Harness and Equestrian Supplies.

Please refer to the 2013 Thunderbird Show Park prize lists for complete class details.  For further information, contact SSG ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion manager Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications Inc., at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.