McMahon joins heated three-way battle for CRCA presidency

CLARENCE Valley mayor Richie Williamson has expressed his desire to throw his hat into another ring – the Clarence River Cricket Association.

WHAT A FEELING!: Harwood captain Tim McMahon celebrates CRCA Premier League victory over Tucabia-Copmanhurst with teammates, including sons Ben and hayden McMahon, at Ellem Oval on Sunday. Photo: Bill North/The Daily Examiner

CLARENCE Valley mayor Richie Williamson has expressed his desire to throw his hat into another ring - the Clarence River Cricket Association.

Cr Williamson is one of two high-profile community members to express interest in the presidency, currently occupied by Tom Kroehnert.

The other person is Tim McMahon, current Lower Clarence Cricket Association president and celebrating captain of CRCA's premiership winners Harwood.

While an election will not take place until the annual general meeting in July, debate is certain to be at fever pitch for months, as all three are at loggerheads with different visions for the future of cricket in the valley.

Not surprisingly, with both associations already within his grasp as president of one and premiership-winning captain of another, McMahon has called for a mega-merger of the two associations into a four-grade Clarence Valley competition.

"Look at it this way," McMahon said. "Pulling one string is easier than two."

The mayor plans to adopt a less autocratic approach and adopt more "festival-style" tournaments, pointing to the success of the Mayor's XI versus President's XI Twenty20 match played every Australia Day.

"The Mayor's XI has beaten the President's XI the last three years so that could be saying something," Cr Williamson said.

"I've spoken to the current president about presenting the captain of the Mayor's XI the winning trophy at the CRCA Presentation Dinner this Saturday.

"My decision will depend on what he decides. If he lets me present the trophy, then we're all good, I'll pull out of the race."

Interestingly, the captain of the Mayor's XI is McMahon. He agreed Kroehnert's decision on whether or not to allow the Mayor's XI its time in the sun on presentation night would have a major bearing on the outcome of the presidential race.

"If Tom swallows that bitter pill I'd have to respect him for that," McMahon said.

Kroehnert was concerned a three-way battle would widen divisions within the cricket community and will campaign a "steady-as-she-goes" approach.

"I don't know what Richie's problem is," Kroehnert said. "He runs the town, runs the radio station and now he feels he needs to run cricket as well.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it. No joke."

Originally published as McMahon joins heated three-way battle for CRCA presidency