Arrowe Park, Birkenhead on Saturday 16/02/1985 (Intermediates)

Arrowe Park, Birkenhead, Wirral hosted the Intermediate Women's National Cross-Country Championships. The event was sponsored by Provincial Insurance Limited and a record number of entries were received for the event (2672), 420 of which were for the Intermediate 4km race.

After 500m of the race the leading group consisted of Wendy Wright (Derby & County AC), Clare Keller (Sale Harriers), Anne Reason (Havering AC), Diane Critchlow (Weymouth St Pauls Harriers), Philippa Mason (Guildford & Godalming AC), Sarah Wilson (City of Hull AC) and Michelle Kearns (Medway AC).

Wendy Wright led by 10 metres from Clare Keller with a kilometre of the race left to run. Clare Keller steadily reduced the gap on Wright and with 250 metres to go pulled level. On the run in Keller pulled clear to win by 20 metres in 14:28. Wright managed to hold off a concerted effort from Anne Reason for second with Lisa Reilly (Morpeth Harriers) fourth. Talking to Athletics Weekly after the race Keller was asked if she thought before the race she had a chance of winning, answered "Not at all".

Northern champions Sale Harriers won the team event even without scoring the individual winner who was in the process of a move from Manchester Harriers. Sale scored 125 points, 53 points ahead of Aldershot, Farnham & District AC with Victoria Park AAC in third.