It was gloves off when 16 members of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions’ national network of Omega contractors were treated to a sneak preview of a new product. Teams of two from each contractor went head to head with another pair of fitters in an all-singing, all-dancing Grid-Off competition to install the soon-to-be-launched TLS grid and Ultima+ board tile system in a 7.2m2 rig erected in a "boxing ring" at the NEC.

Organiser Isabel Blanco, Armstrong's marketing and sales coordinator for the UK, Ireland and Southern Africa, said: "We were inundated with interest for this competition and that was reflected in how seriously our Omega members took the event on the day, not just in terms of finishing the installation quickly but finishing it well."

The eight rounds, to commentary by boxing pundit Steve Bunce, saw the two fastest times through to a grand final during which Coyle Suspended Ceilings, all the way from Northern Ireland, emerged the winners and New Forest Ceilings runners-up. Coyle fitters Kevin Coyle and Tom Goodfellow installed their final ceiling in 05:22:22 and New Forest brothers Jai and Carlo Kilford clocked up 06:36:16 to win some seriously sought-after prizes.

The Coyle pair each won an Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra James Bond limited edition watch while the New Forest brothers won four tickets to watch Anthony Joshua fight Wladimir Klitschko for the WBO super heavyweight world championship at Wembley on April 29th.