Darragh Kenny is presented with a $3,000 bonus from Jennifer Ward of Starting Gate Communications, on behalf of SSG Riding Gloves. Photo by Sportfot

January 27, 2011 – Wellington, FL – The luck of the Irish helped Darragh Kenny win a $3,000 cash bonus from SSG Riding Gloves for claiming victory in the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Round III on January 27 while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves.

From a starting field of 42 entries, 10 jumped clear to advance to the jump-off. Brianne Goutal held the lead with a time of 44.77 seconds when the young Irishman dared to leave a stride out down the final line riding Gael Force. The risk paid off with a time of 43.31 seconds, earning Kenny the victory as well as a $3,000 cash bonus for winning while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves.

“I jumped the first WEF class during week one when I was sixth with Gael Force, and I bought the gloves then,” explained Kenny, who just celebrated his 23rd birthday. “The more I ride in them, the more I like them. It’s a great promotion and a great sponsorship for us riders.”

Kenny’s victory marked the third week in a row that the winner of the WEF Challenge Cup had been wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. The $3,000 bonus went to Canada’s Yann Candele during week one while 18-year-old Catherine Pasmore claimed the bonus money during week two.

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.

For the weekly WEF Challenge Cup Series held each Thursday, a $3,000 cash bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they compete wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible on the wrist. If the winning rider is not wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves, the money will carry forward and be added to the following week’s bonus, bringing the total bonus to $6,000, $9,000, etc.

For the weekly Amateur-Owner Jumper Low Classic and the weekly Amateur-Owner Jumper High Classic, a prize money bonus of $1,000 will be awarded to the winning rider if they compete wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the SSG horse head logo clearly visible on the wrist. If not awarded, the bonus money carries forward, bringing the next week’s total to $2,000, $3,000, etc.

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 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.