Western Park, Leicester on Saturday 15/02/1986 (Intermediates)
The Intermediate Women's National Cross-Country Championships were held at Western Park, Leicester. The event was sponsored by Provincial Insurance Limited. 514 were entered for the race compared to the previous record number of 461. The course was 4km and consisted of one small and one large lap.
After the small lap the leading group consisted of Lisa Reilly (Morpeth Harriers), Gill Knight (Derby & County AC), Philippa Mason (Guildford & Godalming AC), Mandy Holmes (Liverpool Harriers), Jane Barber (City of Stoke AC) and defending champion Clare Keller (Sale Harriers). A kilometre later Samantha Baines (Aldershot, Farnham & District AC), Susan Riley (Derby & County AC) and Helen Titterington (Leicester Coritanian AC) joined the leading group and Knight and Barber dropped back.
With one kilometre of the race to go there was still a group of six at the front. The fast pace split the group and the leaders were the three eventual medalists Mason, Reilly and Keller.
Philippa Mason (Guildford & Godalming AC) on her way to victory in the Intermediates
Coming into the finishing straight Phillipa Mason led and pulled clear to win in 12:10, 15 metres clear of Lisa Reilly with Clare Keller third.
Clare Keller led her team Sale Harriers to victory in the team event, they beat Notts. AC by a whopping 65 points with Birchfield Harriers third. Other counters for Sale were Claire Gilmartin (12th), Louise Dunn (13th) and Alison Dwyer (17th).