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Lucas Porter and Lacey Gilbertson “Go Clean for the Green”
in SSG Promotion

Lucas Porter riding Phineas claimed a $1,000 bonus in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion after winning the $10,000 Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Classic on February 1.
Photo by Sportfot
Lacey Gilbertson, with her winning mount Record de Pleville, is presented with a $1,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward on behalf of SSG Gloves for wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on her way to victory in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.
Photo by Sportfot

February 1, 2015 – Wellington, FL – Week four of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, drew to a close with three more winners in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. Canada’s Eric Lamaze won a record fourth straight bonus of $3,000 to bring his total to $12,000 to date while Lucas Porter and Lacey Gilbertson each picked up their first $1,000 bonus of the 2015 season.

On Sunday morning, February 1, Lucas Porter saved the best for last in the $10,000 High Junior Jumper Classic, presented by his family’s Sleepy P Ranch. A total of 11 entries advanced to the jump-off with Porter having the advantage of being last to go. The 17-year-old was chasing the target time of 35.76 seconds set by Giavanni Rinaldi and thrilled the crowd with a daring jump-off performance that saw him cross the timers in 34.17 seconds. In addition to taking the win with his long-time partner Phineas, Porter was wearing his SSG ‘Digitals’ to claim the $1,000 bonus on offer in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion.

“The jump-off was a really fast one; it was a really ‘gallopy’ jump-off with just a few turns mixed in,” said Porter of Bartonville, TX. Of his winning mount Phineas, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding, Porter said, “This is his fourth WEF with me. He is the Junior Jumper of a lifetime, really. He’s super careful, quick, and he has a lot of blood.”

In the five-year history of the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion, Porter is only the second rider to ever win the bonus money by wearing a glove colour other than black. SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves are available in five colours, and the only requirement is that the winning rider must be wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ to be eligible for the bonus money.

“I got this pair, and I don’t think anyone else wants to wear brown, so hopefully no one will steal them,” said Porter of the strategy behind his colour choice. “I really like that the ‘Digitals’ pay this bonus, and I wear them every time I ride; I even have a farmer’s tan because I always wear them!

“It is a great promotion, and encourages all the riders to buy the gloves and wear them in their competitions,” continued Porter, who attends Stanford University Online High School, enabling him to maintain a full competition schedule while also balancing his studies. “Everyone believes they can win, and they should! Everyone wants to win the extra $1,000 or $3,000 bonus, depending on which class they are showing in.”

In addition to thanking SSG Gloves for its sponsorship, Porter also added, “I’d like to thank John Roche, my trainer; Chelsea Sundius, my barn manager; all the grooms, and also my parents and my sponsors.”

Meanwhile, Lacey Gilbertson topped a 55-horse starting field to win the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic on Saturday, January 31. Of the 12 riders that advanced to the jump-off, Gilbertson posted the winning time of 44.11 seconds riding Record de Pleville. As the Chicago native was also wearing SSG ‘Digitals’ on her way to victory, Gilbertson was awarded a $1,000 bonus in recognition of her loyalty to the SSG Gloves brand.

“I am lucky that my horse is the most amazing thing in the entire world!” said Gilbertson of her mount, Record de Pleville.

The pair had been members of the winning team in the previous night’s Artisan Farms Under 25 Grand Prix Series, and came back the next day to claim top spot in the $15,000 High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic.

“I got him in June, and this weekend has probably been one of the best show weekends I have ever had!” said Gilbertson, who trains with Shane Sweetnam. “I thought he was going to be tired, but he went in and stepped up. He is one of the sweetest, and probably one of the smartest, horses I have ever ridden. He wants to do everything right. We work on something and he gets better and better, and I think he will continue to get better and better.”

In addition to winning, Gilbertson scored her first-ever bonus in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion.

“These are the gloves that I always wear,” said Gilbertson, 21, who was considering treating herself to a shopping spree with her bonus money. “I like them because my reins don’t slip through my hands. I originally got them for the promotion when I was a junior, and I’ve just been wearing them ever since.”

SSG Gloves will continue to offer a $3,000 bonus in each of the weekly Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series events, as well as a $1,000 bonus in the High Amateur-Owner Jumper Classic and the Sleepy P Ranch High Junior Jumper Classic competitions. If the winning rider in any of these three competitions is wearing SSG ‘Digital’ style gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible, they will be presented with the SSG Gloves bonus during the awards presentation. A total of $60,000 in bonus money is on offer from SSG Gloves at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival.

SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves are available for purchase at numerous Wellington locations including Tackeria and Dover Saddlery, as well as on-site at the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds at various retailers including Running Fox and Hadfield’s Saddlery.

Please refer to the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival Prize List for complete promotion details on the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. For further information, please contact promotion manager Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications Inc., at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.


 



 
Starting Gate Communications is one of the world’s largest full-service public relations companies specializing in equestrian sport, particularly the three Olympic disciplines of dressage, show jumping and three day eventing. With a wide variety of promotional services offered, Starting Gate Communications can spread the news about everything from horse show results to breeding information to product development. Simply put, if your business includes the horse industry, we will get you the recognition you deserve.
 

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