MANY congratulations to Horse Sport Ireland marketing manager Sophie D’Alton and long-term boyfriend John Warner who got engaged last Sunday.

The couple were in Dublin for the weekend and went to Howth Head for a walk when John got on one knee. From New Ross in Co Wexford, John is a part-time farmer and mechanical engineer who is also involved in horses.

His father, Jack Warner, is a sport horse breeder and notable horses to come from their farm include Sir Digby, who competed at the 2017 World Breeding Championships for Young Event Horses in Le Lion d’Angers in 2017 under Brazil’s Carlos Parro, and The Masters Harry, who represented Britain at the 2019 European Young Rider eventing championship. John’s sister, Crea English, works for Teagasc.

Also from New Ross, keen event rider Sophie is well-known within the sport horse industry as marketing manager at Horse Sport Ireland, where she has worked for almost seven years. She began as Sponsorship and Promotions executive in 2012 and took up the role of marketing manager in 2015.

One of her biggest projects to date was the hugely successful Marketing Symposium which took place in March 2017.

The couple, who competed together at the Wexford Pony Club in their younger years, haven’t set a date but are hoping to get married next year (2020).

For now, they are enjoying the celebrations!