By RON FANFAIR
Toronto Lawyer Errol Townsend is back as the president of the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA).
Townsend, who held the post briefly in the 1990s, replaces Canadian Cricket Association (CCA) treasurer Traddie Simpson who did not seek re-election. He defeated Southern Ontario Cricket Association (SOCA) representative Mike Kendall by a close 8-6 margin.
The OCA has five votes while SOCA, the Hamilton & District Cricket Association (HDCA) and the Ottawa & Valley Cricket Association (OVCA) each have three votes.
The vice-presidents are Vern Payne of the HDCA and Norman Jackson of Malton Cricket Club while Petra Pompey and Toronto & District Cricket Association (TDCA) president Austin Ward are the secretary and treasurer respectively.
Townsend, who is also a member of the CCA's senior selection committee, said the OCA's new constitution was approved at last Sunday's annual general meeting to pave the way for new members to apply.
The Etobicoke & District Cricket League is actively seeking OCA membership.
Meanwhile, Canadian Cricket Association (CCA) president Ben Sennik and treasurer Traddie Simpson met with West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Teddy Griffith and Marketing and Business Development Committee and Constitution Review Committee chair Whycliffe "Dave" Moore at a hotel near New York's JFK airport last Saturday.
"There was a lot of consistency in the ideas that we shared during the frank and fruitful discussions," said Sennik after the four-hour meeting. "We are looking at the WICB for direction on how we can advance the sport here, and I think we have built a bridge with them to work together."