TENANT farmers of the Army at Catterick Garrison sat down to a meal of prize winning Swaledale lamb this week.

For the lamb on their plate had been bred by the Greenwood family of Walburn Hall, Downholme, and had won prizes at the recent Royal Smithfield Show.

It was the first time David Greenwood and son, Bruce, had shown in their own right, although lambs bred by them have taken prizes at Smithfield.

They were delighted to be invited by the Army to supply the meat for Wednesday's lunch: "We have always had beef in the past and I asked if they would mind if we provided Swaledale lamb," said Mr Greenwood.

Walburn Hall, one of the few remaining fortified farmhouses, is the venue for the National Sheep Association's North Sheep 2003 event on June 4 next year.

When it was held in 2000, it attracted almost 200 trade stands and 8,000 visitors from throughout the UK.

The farm extends to 1,800 acres of which 1,400 acres are fell and heather moorland running to 1,500ft above sea level.

The farm supports a flock of 1,200 Swaledale ewes, 25pc of which are put to Bluefaced Leicester tups to produce Mule lambs.

There is also a herd of 200 pure Limousin beef suckler cows.

"We thought because of Sheep 2003 it would be much better to have lamb than beef at the tenants' dinner," said Mr Greenwood.

"We then thought that as we were showing at Smithfield it would be nice to bring them back for the table."

Martin McIntyre, who opened his new abattoir at Bainbridge, earlier this year was happy to go to Smithfield to buy the lambs.

"These Swaledale sheep run on the most natural heather moorland," said Mr Greenwood.

"I believe there is a great marketing future for them as unique prime quality lamb off the environmentally friendly heather land which they help to create and shape."

The Swaledale Sheep Society entered a strong class of 14 lambs at Smithfield.

The overall winner was Roy Nelson of Skipton with Redesdale Farm in Northumberland coming second.

Mr Greenwood's lambs were placed third and fourth. "It was a great honour just to be there," said Mr Greenwood, who also met and chatted to Princess Anne when she visited the lines.

Thewinning lambs were bought by Peter Wilkinson of the Catterick-based Quality Fare chain of supermarkets and will be sold at their shop in Leyburn