Muddy match brings calm to Land Rover lover’s chaos

The muddy love story of Caroline & Kevin

Eight years ago, Kevin, a die-hard Land Rover enthusiast with a penchant for green wellies and off-road adventures, joined Muddy Matches, hoping to find someone who wouldn’t mind a bit of mud on the tyres – or the kitchen floor.

Caroline, a ‘country girl through and through’ as her profile proclaimed, was seeking a match who could handle a life filled with dogs, rolling fields, and the occasional broken-down tractor.

When Caroline first came across Kevin’s profile, she couldn’t help but think it was refreshingly honest and real; no over-filtered selfies, no pretentious quotes, just a straight-talking country bloke with a sparky grin and a selfie with his spaniel (instant bonus points).

‘If you don’t mind the smell of wet dogs and diesel, we might just get along. Looking for someone who enjoys country walks and pub lunches. Defender owner, because proper 4x4s aren’t built for motorways.‘

She sent him a message that evening: “So, does the Defender spend more time running or in pieces on the driveway? Asking for a friend…”

And the rest, as they say, is history.

A pub lunch in a rural village heralded their first date, where Kevin turned up – late – in his trusty Defender 90, proudly splattered with mud from an earlier green-laning session. Instead of being horrified, Caroline was intrigued. Over a hearty meal, they bonded over a mutual appreciation for a proper Sunday roast, and, of course, the joys (and frustrations) of Land Rover ownership.

Fast forward a few years, and their relationship has tackled more bumps than a rutted farm track, but they have weathered it all together, including a 4×4 trek around the Scottish Highlands,. When Kevin finally popped the question – on a windswept hillside after one of their now regular Sunday afternoon off-roading adventures – naturally, Caroline didn’t hesitate.

Their wedding was a true down-to-earth countryside affair: held on a working farm, complete with hay bales for seating and a reception in a beautifully decorated barn full of rustic charm. And there was not a single fancy sports cars in sight – just a field full of rugged TD5 Defenders (the convoy of choice for Kevin’s groomsmen), and a classic Series IIs that whisked the married couple off.

“Caroline brings a bit of calm to my chaos. She’s the only person who can keep me from spending an entire weekend with a spanner in one hand and a bacon butty in the other,” Kevin tells us.

“She’s got this way of making even the most random of situations feel like an adventure, and honestly, life just wouldn’t be the same without her.”

As for their Muddy Matches experience, Caroline is adamant; “I never thought I’d meet my perfect match online, but Muddy Matches proved that the right person is out there, even if they come with a love for fixing things that aren’t really broken! If you love country life and want someone who truly gets it, try it. You never know where one message might lead.”