Photo – Miranda, representing England at cross country
This week we have received the extremely sad news that Miranda was taken ill last weekend and unfortunately passed away earlier this week, taken too soon at the age of just 52 years old.
I and others at Tonbridge Athletic Club send our heartfelt condolences and thoughts to all her family and friends at this extremely sad time.
Miranda was a member of Tonbridge AC in the 1980s, as part of an extremely successful under 13 and 15 squad, alongside the likes of Julie Adkin (now Goodge), Stacy Washington, Jemima Slade, Kelly Laughton-Zimmerman and others. On one occasion, four of them scored just 23 points, with 4 in the top 10 in the Girls’ (under 15) age group at the National Cross Country Championships, when Julie led them home.
In later years, Miranda moved to the West Country, so we would only see her occasionally, although the likes of Rachel Fagg stayed in very close contact. Miranda had a spell competing for Tonbridge once again, but her first claim club was Newquay and Parr and this is her Power of 10 profile, listing some of her results –
https://www.thepowerof10.info/athletes/profile.aspx?athleteid=26255
Miranda, like so many teenagers, drifted away from the sport for a while, but reappeared as an extremely good senior distance runner and here are a few of her achievements –
10th National Cross Country in the Girls’ age group (under 13), in 1985, helping Tonbridge to the win
1st in the Girl’s age group (under 13) in Southern Cross Country Championships, in 1986
5th in the Great North Run Half Marathon in 76.00 1998 (a race won by Sonia O’Sullivan)
56.38 for 10 miles
She won a senior women’s Kent Cross Country League race at Somerhill, Tonbridge in 2013
2nd in the South of England Cross Country Championships in 2014
6th in the English National Cross Country Championships in 2014
Represented England at cross country
Miranda even had a try at race walking and recorded 1.54.11 for 20km
Aside from all her achievements in the sport, Miranda was regarded as one of those warm, smiley and affectionate people, that people felt at ease with. She joined a group of us for a weekend training camp once and put a few of us to shame in how she handled the training regime and wasn’t’ daunted in the slightest by being the only female there.
Julie Goodge recalls – In one of her last messages she said that she was still involved in athletics, helping with track judging, which sums her up, if she couldn’t run herself she was still helping out.
Miranda had a tough life at times, especially with her health, but so often would smile through and be pleased to see friends.
Her passing was a shock to everyone, after she suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm, which is a reminder to us all to cherish every day that we have.
Mark Hookway – on behalf of Tonbridge Athletic Club