European Figure Skating Championships: Lila Fair from Britain and Louis Gibson did not achieve the historic gold medal

This means that British skaters have yet to win an event at the Europeans since Dame Jane Torvill and Sir Christopher Dean in Dancing on Ice in 1994.

Fer (26 years old) and Gibson (31 years old) had a great opportunity to finish that round after they ranked second after the rhythmic dance, 1.5 points behind Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron.

But after a strong start in which they performed their hardest lifts to perfection, a little fear slipped into the synchronized twists, the second element of the routine.

While they got back on track and climaxed brilliantly at the end with bagpipes thundering around Sheffield, their disappointed looks on the ice at the end were telling.

Instead, Fournier Beaudry, 33, and 31-year-old Cizeron, who only joined the team in March, took gold.

They became a couple after Cizeron split from his ex-partner Gabriella Papadakis, who accused him of controlling behaviour.

Meanwhile, Fabbri, 37, and 36-year-old Guinard are the oldest male and female skaters at these championships, and have returned to Sheffield where they competed in their first European Championships together in 2012.

It was Fabbri’s 14th Euro, a new record – and his sixth medal.

Earlier, fellow Brits Phoebe Baker and James Hernandez performed a smooth, spine-tingling routine, receiving a standing ovation in Sheffield.

After a good start, the young duo – aged 20 and 24 respectively – improved, scoring twirls and choreographed steps towards the end of the routine well above their baseline value in execution score.

It earned them a season-best 106.75 in the free dance, which placed them in first place overall at the halfway point.

They finished in 11th place but have ensured they will be worth watching in the coming years – and firstly, at the upcoming Winter Olympics.