Dating experts from farm near Wellingborough shortlisted for 'rural Oscar'

Country life dating experts Muddy Matches have been shortlisted for a Countryside Alliance rural enterprise award.

The farming family-owned online dating brand was first awarded a rural Oscar in 2009 for connecting single people in rural communities through matched country life background, lifestyle and a fondness for countryside pursuits.

It was also reward for achieving a landmark 2,000th registration.

10 years on, Muddy Matches will welcome its 500,000th ‘rural romantic’ in the early part of 2020 and now enjoys more than 3 million website visits each year.

This growth, sparked in part by a recent royal recommendation in ITV documentary Prince Charles: Duchy of Cornwall, has earnt Muddy Matches a place on the shortlist in the 2020 Countryside Alliance awards, following a public nomination.

Based out of a working farm in Farndish near Wellingborough, Muddy Matches will contend the regional rounds as one of four shortlisted rural businesses with hope to emulate their 2009 success and qualify as Midlands winners for the national finals.

Speaking after being shortlisted from more than 18,000 nominations, Lucy Reeves, co-founder of Muddy Matches, said: “At Muddy Matches, we are proud that we have, once again, been shortlisted for a Countryside Alliance award.

"To be nominated shows that Muddy Matches continues to be valued and trusted by the people we serve.

“With mental well-being and social isolation ever more prevalent now in rural and farming communities, companionship has never been more important.

"So, naturally, we are delighted that the traditional values and human touch we invest into the Muddy Matches online dating experience has been recognised.

“Since winning a rural Oscar in 2009, we have seen tremendous growth in recent years but we still love celebrating ‘muddy ever after’ success stories from those that match on Muddy Matches.

“To actually be in with a chance of an award, a decade on from our first, is a much welcomed 10-year anniversary present of our very own and one that we will treasure.”

The regional winners should be announced by mid-May.