Brave Nick Skelton and Arko III led Britain to a spectacular triumph at Hickstead on Friday, recapturing the Samsung Super League Nations Cup for the first time since 1997.

Skelton, who had had to take painkillers after pulling a back muscle in a competition yesterday morning, was the key man in the side with two clear rounds.

Team manager Derek Ricketts, in his second year as showjumping boss, saw his riders come out on top at home after some disappointing results abroad last year.

He said: "This was a tremendous morale booster. Our major objective for the year is the European Championships next month in Germany, where we must qualify for the Olympic Games next year. To win here was a real bonus."

The four man British team were sent away to a positive start by Skelton's zero score on the exceptionally promising 9 year old, Arko III.

They made nothing of the 12-fence course, which had been slightly adjusted because of heavy rain. The time was eased by seven seconds and some of the spread fences lessened, but as Skelton confirmed: "It was still a big test."

Yorkshireman Scott Smith and Cabri d'Elle had the discard score of just four faults but Cheshire rider Richard Davenport, who is based in Holland, was impressive with a clear round on his Cup newcomer Luc.

Robert Smith followed suit on Mr Springfield, to give Britain the half time lead on zero, with Ireland and France on four faults each.

Manager Ricketts admitted: "I began to get nervous when I realised Britain could win, but I knew we had a long way to go."

In the second half, Skelton and Arko completed a double clear, but so did Frenchman Reynald Angot on Tlaloc, Grand Prix winners on Thursday, and Ireland's Cian O'Connor on Waterford Crystal.

When Smith on Cabri d'Elle and Davenport on Luc had one mistake apiece, the result depended on the last horses of each team.

Germany lost any chance of challenging the leaders when Mylene Diederichsmeier was tipped out of the saddle from Countess, near the finish line, for 21 faults.

Holland, Sweden and Italy had dropped further back and Belgium withdrew Irishman Peter Charles might have hoped for a clear round from his Hickstead Derby winner Corrada, but she caught the 11th fence, then Frenchman Michel Robert lowered the last on Galet d'Auzay to leave Britain with an unshakeable advantage.

Smith and Mr.Springfield had no need to jump again. It was Britain's second Nations Cup success of the year after Lisbon in June, but the first in the Super League, gaining promotion to 3rd overall place.