LUCY Gillbanks and Beth Willford-Dutton added another chapter to the story of a fine season on Sunday when they contested the final at Henley Women’s Regatta.

The Northwich Rowing Club duo could not prevent neighbours Warrington from capturing the junior double sculls title, but that did not diminish their achievement.

They are the first crew in green and gold to reach the final since Isabella Lindholt and Caroline Barrett set a course record – which still stands – for Northwich on their way to claiming first prize back in 2003.

After progressing from a time trial on Saturday morning, during which they classified second, Gillbanks and Willford-Dutton recorded impressive victories against crews representing Twickenham, Thames and Norwich.

However Great Britain international Lucy Glover and Ellie Davies, in Warrington’s colours, ended their winning run in the final by a four-length margin.

A second Northwich double, consisting of Abigail Davies and Jess Swindells, had succumbed Norwich in the first round after making the cut following the time trial.

Lindholdt and Barrett became the first Northwich crew to win at the event when they beat crews from Avon County, St Neots and Oundle more than a decade ago.

Meanwhile India Trigg, Imogen Wolstencroft, Anya George and Hannah Cooney fought hard before bowing out against eventual winners Glasgow Schools’ Rowing Club in the Bea Langridge Trophy for junior quad sculls.

“All of the girls have worked incredibly hard over the winter,” said Rachel Hooper, who coaches the crews along with Kevin Jump.

“They have deservedly reaped the rewards of that dedication.”

Those eight rowers will make up two quad sculls hoping to secure a spot in the Diamond Jubilee Challenge Cup at next week’s Henley Royal Regatta.

They battle against more than 30 rivals in a time trial on Friday, when there are seven places up for grabs.

A junior men’s quad of Rhys Coffey, George Crouchley, Matt Radford and Lawrence Williams will join them on the famous course.

Their aim is to make the main draw of the Fawley Challenge Cup, for which clubmates George Lawton, Greg Murphy, Harry Taylor and Kevin Dudley have already qualified.

A Grange School boat, with Matthew Strickland-Baker, Sam Hawes, Nat Antrobus and James Darbyshire on board, takes part in the same time trial.

Lawton, Murphy, Taylor and Dudley continued their preparation by taking sixth place in the A final at Marlow Regatta on Saturday.