The Jamaica Cricket Association's new president, Paul Campbell, addresses the media after his election to the post last night. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer.

PAUL CAMPBELL is the new president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).

The incumbent vice-president, who made himself available for the job after long-serving president Jackie Hendriks decided not to seek re-election, defeated Ambassador Courtney Walsh by three votes, 50-47, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel yesterday.

"It has been a long and stressful campaign, but thankfully I was able to pull it off," said Campbell after giving a sigh of relief.

"It was a real challenge and honour to go up against a man like Walsh, but I guess the delegates saw what I had offered and planned to offer and decided to give me the chance to continue. I am indeed grateful," he said.

Unable to pull it off

Meanwhile, Walsh was magnanimous in defeat.

"It was a very close race, however, in the end I was unable to pull it off," he said. "I have always said that I was not in it for the personal gains, so if the delegates feel that Campbell should be given a chance, I have to respect their decision.

"I love this game and remain grateful for what it has done to me and I will continue to play my part in contributing to its development," he said.

In winning, Campbell will serve as president of the JCA for the next two years. He may however not be surrounded by the team he wants as, up to news time, not all of his slate of running mates were elected.

In the race for first vice-president, his second in command, Dave Cameron, was defeated by Walsh's number two, Lynden Wright, 54-51, while his third in command, incumbent second vice-president Cleveland Kedoo, and incumbent general secretary, Milton Henry, came away victors.

Kedoo defeated Fitz Harris 50-46, while Henry's opponent, Dennis Gordon, withdrew his candidacy.

Incumbent assistant secretary Ian Brown, a Walsh backer, defeated Campbell's Malden Miller 58-38 to retain his post, while in the race for treasurer Campbell's Major Radcliffe Daley defeated Courtney Daley 49-48.

The work at hand

"Now that the election is over, I hope that we can get back to the work at hand," Campbell said.

"Looking forward, we will need the input of everyone. Walsh and his team has put forward some good good ideas, all of which I plan to take a close look at as we need to move the game forward, so that we can re-establish cricket as the number one sport and recreational activity in this country," he said.