Samantha Buirs rode Total Touch to victory in the $31,500 CSI2* Thunderbird Spring Welcome while wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves to earn a $1,000 bonus, presented by Jane Tidball and Chris Pack of Thunderbird Show Park. Photo by Totem Photographics
Lisa Williams riding Fleetstreet receives a $500 bonus from SSG Riding Gloves after winning the $5,000 Jump Canada 3’6” Hunter Classic. Photo by Totem Photographics

June 5 , 2011 – Langley, BC – Samantha Buirs and Lisa Williams were the bonus money winners when the SSG Riding Gloves ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion was held during the CSI2*-W BC Open show jumping tournament from June 1 to 5 at Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC.

Local favourite Samantha Buirs of Langley, BC, topped a large starting field to win the $31,500 CSI2* Thunderbird Spring Welcome on June 2. A seven horse jump-off saw Buirs emerge victorious after posting a clear round in the time of 35.16 seconds, to edge out 2008 Olympic Team Silver medalist Jill Henselwood, who placed second with Special Ed and third riding George. As she was wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves on her way to victory, the win earned Buirs a bonus of $1,000 from SSG Riding Gloves.

“It is excellent to win the bonus,” said Buirs, 24, who has been a frequent visitor to the winner’s circle at Thunderbird with Total Touch, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare she has been partnered with since 2008. “I love the gloves anyway, and have about five pairs.”

Another BC native, Lisa Williams, claimed a $500 bonus from SSG when she won the $5,000 Jump Canada 3’6” Hunter Classic on June 3 wearing her SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves. Riding Fleetstreet, Williams topped a competitive field for the victory.

“I think the promotion is a great idea, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Williams, who has been riding Fleetstreet for the past year and a half. “It was a nice added bonus.”

Throughout the 2011 show season at Thunderbird Show Park, SSG Riding Gloves will award a total of $9,000 in bonus money through its ‘Go Clean for the Green’ promotion. In six designated Grand Prix events, if the winning rider is wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves with the horse head logo clearly visible, they will be presented with a $1,000 cash bonus. If the winning rider is not wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves, the bonus money will be carried forward to the next event, increasing from $1,000 to $2,000, etc. The same formula applies to the six designated hunter events, where a $500 bonus is on offer.

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

West Coast Classic – June 29-July 3
$10,000 MCL Grand Prix
$1,500 Cobblestone Farm 3’ Hunter Derby

Western Family Festival – July 6-10
$10,000 TD Bank Grand Prix
$1,500 Show Park 3’ Hunter Classic

CSI2* Fort Summer Classic – August 17-21
$50,000 Dianne Tidball Legacy Grand Prix
$2,500 USHJA 3’6” National Hunter Classic

CSI2*-W Fort Summer Festival - August 24-28
$30,000 CSI2* Luisa Cerano Classic
$5,000 Jump Canada 3’6” Hunter Classic

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

Please refer to the 2011 Thunderbird Show Park prize lists for complete class details. For further information, contact Jennifer Ward, Starting Gate Communications, at cell: 613 292-5439 or jward@startinggate.ca.