The finals recently took place at The Flooring Show from 20th to 21st September, testing the skills of five experienced carpet fitters.

The five finalists for 2026 were:

• Darren Ash - Alfrick, Worcestershire
• Hayden Barr - Ambleside, Cumbria
• Stephen Johnson - Liverpool, Merseyside
• Danny Latimer – Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear
• James Wilkinson – Pudsey, West Yorkshire

As our 2026 winner, James receives a cash prize of £2000, along with prizes kindly donated by the competition's sponsors.

This year, the Judges' Challenge set the task of honouring the competition's 10th anniversary, which was won by Darren Ash for his brilliant carpet piece. Congrats!

Thank you once again to the sponsors who have generously provided their support!

View the 2026 Final photo gallery

Our Finalists

Hi I am Darren Ash, originally from Windsor but 15 years ago we moved to Malvern Worcestershire. Almost straight away I joined the NICF and took the master fitter assessment. Living so close to Kidderminster the home of British carpet manufacturing I wanted to establish myself and stand out from the crowd in my new area. My father was a very good fitter and my grandmother a carpet seamstress, so although defiantly not my first choice, it was inevitable I would join the trade. I have worked at some amazing places and met and become friends with some great people of which I'm truly thankful. A huge thanks to everyone involved in the competition from everyone in the offices to the guys front of stage. Good luck guys and enjoy.

Darren Ash

My name is Hayden, I come from the Lake District in Cumbria. I started out in the flooring industry 17 years ago straight out of school, working with my dad. He enrolled me on the floorskills apprenticeship scheme and has encouraged me to keep up with regular training ever since. In our shop we supply and fit all kinds of flooring from LVT to Naturals. The main part of my fitting over the last few years has been focused on LVT and carpet. I entered this competition to test myself against the best guys in the business and I'm humbled to have made it this far. I'd like to wish all the other finalists the best of luck and would encourage anyone considering entering to do it. It's a great experience and you will meet some brilliant people within the industry. Thank you to the NICF and all the sponsors for giving me this opportunity.

Hayden Barr

Hi, I'm Stephen Johnson, a carpet and flooring installer from Formby, Merseyside. I've been involved in flooring from a young age, growing up in the family business and learning from installers who have become like family to me. Their guidance, together with specialist training over the years, has helped me develop my skills and passion for the trade. I specialise in installing carpet, natural flooring and LVT, and I also produce my own bespoke binding, creating stair runners and rugs, which I genuinely love doing. Being selected as one of the finalists for the 2026 Fitter of the Year competition at the Harrogate Flooring Show is a dream come true. It's an incredible opportunity to install alongside some of the most talented fitters in the industry. The Flooring Show is an event our team looks forward to every year, so experiencing it from the other side is something I'm really excited about, especially taking on the judges' challenge.

Stephen Johnson

My name is Danny Latimer, a 35-year-old carpet master fitter from Newcastle upon Tyne. I'm proud to have reached the finals of the Carpet Fitter of the Year competition alongside some of the industry's best installers. Entering the competition has always been a goal of mine and I'm excited to showcase my skills in the final. One of the best parts of the trade is working alongside other fitters, sharing knowledge, learning from one another, and having a laugh. I'm also looking forward to catching up with friends and meeting fellow floor layers at the Harrogate Flooring Show. My family are incredibly proud that I entered the competition and challenged myself by having my work judged. I'm passionate about my trade and believe there's always something new to learn. Every installation is an opportunity to improve, and I always aim to deliver the highest standard of workmanship in everything I do.

Danny Latimer

I officially started my career in carpet fitting in 2009, but the trade has been part of my life for much longer. Growing up, I spent many summer holidays on site with my dad at Pudsey Carpets, learning the values of hard work and pride in the job. As a proud Yorkshireman, I've always believed carpet fitting is a craft that deserves respect and attention to detail. It's not a "slap it down and get out" trade — it's about skill, precision, and delivering a finish you can be proud of. Becoming a Master Fitter is my proudest career moment and reflects the standards I've always tried to uphold in my work. Reaching the final is a real honour and an opportunity to represent the trade and the craftsmanship behind it.

James Wilkinson

Our Semi-Finalists

We would like to take the opprotunity here to thank our remaining semi-finalists who did not make the final, but who took part and played a valued role in the 2026 competition.