Alcott was in fine form on the slopes in Austria on Friday

It was the best-ever World Cup finish for the 24-year-old from Sussex who was 11th in the downhill at the Winter Olympics in Turin.

The event was won by Marlies Schild as Austrians took the first four places.

Schild, who was sixth after the super-G, finished 0.34 seconds ahead of Michaela Kirchgasser, with Kathrin Zettel in third place.

Alcott, who was eighth after the first run, held her nerve on the second run to move up a place in the standings for an overall time of 2:15.46, 1.77 seconds behind Schild.

Her previous World Cup best was a ninth-place finish in a downhill race at the Italian resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo in January 2004.

It was the third win of the season for Schild after Levi, Finland and Aspen, Colorado, and the tenth World Cup success of her career.

"It was really a big fight today," she said. "I knew I had to give everything in slalom if I wanted to win.

"Each race is a challenge, but this podium means a lot with four Austrians one behind the other."

Sweden's Anja Paerson, the world number one in 2004 and 2005, continued her poor run of form, falling in the slalom after finishing 11th in the super-G.

Results from the women's World Cup combination in Reiteralm (super-G, slalom, overall):

1. Marlies Schild (Aut) 1:23.24, 50.45, 2:13.69
2. Michaela Kirchgasser (Aut) 1:23.48, 50.55, 2:14.03
3. Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 1:22.63, 51.41, 2:14.04
4. Nicole Hosp (Aut) 1:24.06, 50.94, 2:15.00
5. Sarka Zahrobska (Cze) 1:23.30, 52.01, 2:15.31
6. Fanny Chmelar (Ger) 1:23.61, 51.73, 2:15.34
7. Chemmy Alcott (GB) 1:23.35, 52.11, 2:15.46
8. Tanja Poutiainen (Fin) 1:24.16, 51.33, 2:15.49
9. Emily Brydon (Can) 1:23.77, 51.91, 2:15.68
10. Anna Ottosson (Swe) 1:24.21, 51.50, 2:15.71

Overall World Cup standings
1. Nicole Hosp (Aut) 341 points
2. Marlies Schild (Aut) 337
3. Lindsey Kildow (US) 275
4. Kathrin Zettel (Aut) 265
5. Renate Goetschl (Aut) 211
Selected others:
11. Chemmy Alcott (GB) 100.