Gallagher, the first skier from Northern Ireland to ever represent Britain, showed her potential by finishing sixth in the visually-impaired category, a remarkable performance as she has been competing for only a year.

The 24-year-old from County Down finished eighth in her first run and then put in an outstanding second run which lifted her two positions in the rankings in an event won by Austria's Sabine Gasteiger.

Gallagher said: "I’m immensely proud.

"We were secretly hoping for top five but the first run I was really nervous so I felt really proud after my second run.

"It was really good coming into the finish area knowing that I’d finished two runs and I hadn’t fallen.
 
With this event complete, Gallagher can now focus on her preferred event, the giant slalom.
 
She said: "Slalom isn’t my best event, I find I can’t really enjoy it.

"I get nervous because the gates are so small and I can’t really see them.

"I’m looking forward to the GS."

Gallagher was one of three Britons to finish in the top 10 of their events.

Sit-skier Anna Turney, a 30-year-old from Olney, also handled the difficult conditions well, holding her nerve when several other athletes crashed out of the race to finish sixth.
 
She said: "I’m really pleased.

"I’m happy with sixth.

"In the first run the snow was more challenging so I found the first run harder, but I just fought through it and got to the bottom.

"In the second run I felt I was a lot more fluid and smooth."

The event was won by Claudia Loesch (pictured), also from Austria.
 
Like Gallagher, Turney believes her best in still to come.

She said: "Usually I’m better at the GS, though, so I’m looking forward to Tuesday."

In the sitting event of the men’s slalom competition, Sean Rose finished eighth. 

The 38-year-old from Cambridgeshire was lying in 15th after his first run but a strong performance in his second run, combined with three of the higher-ranked athletes including first-run leader, Austria's Jurgen Egle falling, meant he secured a final rank of eighth.
 
Rose said: "I’ve been doing lots of speed training because originally the schedule had the speed events first but obviously the schedule has changed, so it was a bit strange to go into slalom.
 
"I had a terrible first run but made up for it in my second run so I was pleased by the end of the day."
 
In the same event, Britain ’s Tim Farr finished 20th and Talan Skeels-Piggins finished 31st, as the gold medal went to Germany's Martin Braxenthaler.

Britain's team manager Dave Chugg was pleased with the team’s performance.

He said: "It’s been a good day for GB on the hill.

"The girls skied out of their skins today and, although their form was showing good signs, to perform like that with all the pressure at a Paralympic games was very impressive.

"Sean favours the speed events and hasn't finished a World Cup Slalom this season so eighth place is a great result for him as well. 

"We're in a good place before Tuesday’s GS."