Mario Deslauriers receives a cheque for $9,000 for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves while winning the $31,000 WEF Challenge Series Round VIII on Thursday, March 3, at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL. Photo by Sportfot

March 3, 2011 – Wellington, FL – Mario Deslauriers claimed a triple bonus of $9,000 for wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves while winning the $31,000 WEF Challenge Cup Series Round VIII on Thursday, March 3, at the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL.

As the $3,000 weekly bonus had not been awarded the previous two weeks, a total of $9,000 was on offer for Thursday’s event. Of the 16 riders who qualified for the jump-off, 13 were wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Deslauriers turned in the fastest time, stopping the clock in 37.34 seconds to take the victory as well as the $9,000 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves.

“It’s fantastic!” exclaimed Deslauriers following the awards presentation. “I think it’s really great for the riders to have something like this. It’s talked about among the riders, in our circle. It’s exciting that it wasn’t won the past two weeks in a row, so it was triple today. I’m very glad it was my lucky day!”

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.