Teresa Burrows was returned as president of the Western Counties Cricket Association after edging challenger Darren “Butch” Burchall in a face off for the leadership post during a reconvened annual general meeting at Warwick Workmen’s Club last night.

The incumbent prevailed 5-4 in a second vote held to decide the presidency 24 hours after the first ended in a stalemate.

The AGM was reconvened to allow member club PHC to cast a vote after its officials were absent from the initial meeting and to remove the possibility of another stalemate in the vote for the top post.

A victorious Burrows declined to speak to The Royal Gazette after the announcement was made but WCCA secretary Kian Butterfield was more willing to shed light on the meeting, which lasted for nearly two hours.

“Teresa Burrows remains as president of the Western Counties Cricket Association and the outcome of the vote was 5-4,” he said.

Burchall congratulated all those who ran successfully for the available spots on the executive and vowed to help the association to achieve its objectives moving forward.

“Whenever you enter an election process you have to be prepared for winning and be prepared for not winning, so well done to all those who won executive positions and we’re going to work hard to help develop the Western Counties even further,” he said.

“There’s a good mix of youth and experience on the executive that should move the county forward in the direction that it wants to go.”

The WCCA’s executive committee has a new look with Jordan Hill having been voted in as vice-president, Kacy Smith appointed as treasurer, Solay Tucker as assistant secretary-treasurer and Dexter Basden as club representative. Butterfield was returned as secretary after running unopposed for the post.

Former Warwick cricketer Butterfield also confirmed that this summer’s 50-overs series will be held at Southampton Oval.

“This year’s Western Counties is going to be at Southampton Oval based off the rotation,” he said.

The Royal Gazette revealed yesterday that host club Southampton Rangers had decided to resume playing in the competition this summer after a one-year hiatus, which Butterfield is happy to see.

“It’s good to have Rangers back,” he said.

“With them not being in county last year it was a miss; not just the game and the atmosphere, but in its entirety, so I think having them back is a wonderful thing.”

Rangers pulled out of the competition after a dispute with tournament organisers to stage last year’s series at White Hill Field and not at their ground at Southampton Oval, a move they argued contravened the Western Counties Cricket Association’s constitution.

It was the second time that Rangers have pulled out of the competition in the past 14 years after they did so in 2011 in protest against the games being played at Somerset Cricket Club, which is not affiliated with the Western Counties.

In response to Rangers’ decision to withdraw, Western Counties president Burrows expressed sadness over their actions but stressed that all factors were taken into consideration before making the decision to stage the competition at White Hill Field.

This year’s series will feature holders Warwick taking on challengers PHC in the first round on July 4, with hosts Southampton Rangers facing the winner in the second round on July 11.

The winners of that match will take on Somerset Bridge in the third round on August 8 with the winner of that contest to meet Willow Cuts in the final round on August 22.