A woman's annual trip to Aintree's Grand National festival took an "unexpected turn" after her partner proposed.
Shelley Louise Smith, 39, and Alistair Bennett, 46, from Lymm in Cheshire, attended Aintree on Saturday, April 15, for the famous steeplechase where they raised “one of the biggest cheers of the weekend” after getting engaged. Alistair, a motorsport team owner, popped the question to partner of two-and-a-half years Shelley Louise who said she was caught completely off-guard.
The bride-to-be, who works as an equestrian photographer, has attended the meeting on nine previous occasions and regularly works within the vicinity of the grounds at the equestrian centre. Shelley Louise said yes to Alistair on the final day of the racing festival.
READ MORE: 'Litherland running man' killed in hit and run by stolen Audi
She told the ECHO: “I wasn’t expecting it. It’s the most wonderful and magical place.
“I have a lot of great memories at Aintree. [Alistair] knew that I loved it there.”
She added: “We lost every bet [on the day] but I won a ring and he won a wife.”
Shelley Louise added that she would have expected her fiancé to ask the question somewhere quiet, but said that crowds at the meeting enjoyed being a part of their special moment, noting how it brought out “one of the biggest cheers of the weekend” when he got down on one knee. Alistair was attending Aintree for the second time but Shelley Louise said that it will now be somewhere pencilled into their calendar for the years to come
Plans are already in motion with the couple looking to tie the knot early in the new year.
Get all the latest Eurovision 2023 news straight to your inbox
READ NEXT:
Thomas Cashman 'rode around Dovecot on day of Queen's funeral to intimidate witnesses'
Man in hospital after incident at paintball centre near Knowsley Safari Park
Man found dead in Salthouse Dock named as appeal issued
Grand National 2024 priority tickets go on sale as date announced
