“My muddy match changed my life for the better”

A retired sheep farmer, and equestrian, from Suffolk has told how ‘so lucky’ she is that her Shropshire based muddy match remains the love of her life 11 years after connecting online.

Jeanette, who now breeds miniature shetlands as a hobby, met Rob whilst farmer dating on Muddy Matches in July 2012. She insists their mutual matching – and decade spent together with the 1,000 Romney and Lleyn cross breed sheep, dogs, hens and horses – has been simply delightful.

Her online matching with Rob was not Jeanette’s first rodeo on Muddy Matches, but it was to prove lifechanging.

“I had been together with another member for over four years but it was not going in the right direction, so after a period of getting over that relationship, I bravely went back online. I met several nice guys, but then I met Rob!

Rob was everything in a ‘country gent’ this self confessed ‘unconventional country girl’ – “Just as happy at rock concert as wandering around country game shows” – was hoping to discover.

Their relationship fully bloomed offline immediately, leading to Jeanette upping sticks from her home in Suffolk, a year after meeting, for a new life in Shropshire. Three years later they tied the knot in a summer wedding at Ludlow Castle in 2016.

“It’s literally changed my life for the better,” she tells us. “I am so lucky.”

Now a mum to four ‘beautiful’ girls as the two families blended, Jeanette is content; ‘happy living with Rob and the life we have made on the farm.’ The ‘zest for live’ she mentions in her dating profile is alive and kicking.

65 next month, Rob has now retired but the pair continue to farm some sheep. ‘It’s just to keep our hand in’ Jeanette adds, talking of the 30 ewes they share their family home with. “Also, a lot of the cade lambs that I had as pets are fully grown.’

It’s this muddiness – and fondness for the rural lifestyle – that first attracted the pair to one other. “Rob had a picture on his profile of him in his ATV with his dog,“ Jeanette, whose own profile referenced her green TD5 90, recalls. “His gentle face spoke volumes to me.”

Young-at-heart, that same gentle face puts a smile on hers most days, and she is praising of the reason why.

“He is the love of my life and it’s all thanks to the infamous Muddy Matches.”