Ed James, owner of SSG Gloves, and promotion manager Jennifer Ward, accompanied by ringmaster Gustavo Murcia, present Nick Dello Joio, mounted on Contiki, with a $3,000 bonus won in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion following his win in the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round X. Photo by Sportfot
Nick Dello Joio proudly displays his $3,000 bonus from SSG Gloves. Photo by Starting Gate Communications

March 12, 2015 – Wellington, FL – After scoring the first $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup victory of his career, Nick Dello Joio had even more reason to celebrate. The 25-year-old from Wellington, FL, was wearing SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves on his way to victory to earn a $3,000 bonus in the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion running throughout the duration of the 12-week Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

A total of 83 entries went through the International Arena ingate to contest the $34,000 Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Round X held Thursday, March 12. A total of 12 horse-rider combinations jumped clear in the first round over a track set by Canadian course designer Michel Vaillancourt, who will also have the honours at the upcoming 2015 Pan American Games hosted in Toronto, ON.

When the last entry on course for the jump-off, Nick Dello Joio riding Contiki, cantered into the ring, he was chasing the time of 38.56 seconds set by the lightning fast Kent Farrington aboard Blue Angel. With an incredible pace, Dello Joio was hot on Farrington’s heels and raced through the timers in 38.47 seconds to claim the win.

“He is really good at going fast, his natural gait is that he wants to go, and he’s super, super careful,” said Dello Joio of Contiki, a nine-year-old grey Swedish Warmblood gelding. “Fast and careful is a good combination when you’re in the jump-off.”

As Dello Joio was wearing his SSG ‘Digitals’, just as he is every time he competes in the WEF Challenge Cup, he was awarded a $3,000 bonus in recognition of his loyalty to the Canadian brand.

“It’s super!” said Dello Joio of the SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” promotion. “To think that they do that for the riders is just an extra incentive. It’s really, really nice.”

Of his SSG ‘Digital’ riding gloves, Dello Joio commented, “I like how thin they are compared to most other gloves. They are thin, but they also have very, very good grip. They don’t feel heavy in your hand, and they are soft. Typically I don’t like to ride in gloves, but I always wear them in the WEF and Grand Prix classes, especially with Contiki because he is trying to rip the reins out of my hands the whole time!”

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.