Born in 1948 in Kitchener, Ross was raised in Baden (Ont.). He is the son of William and Rowena. His father threw a little bit (the flip shoe). Ross has a son named William (married to Beverly) and living in Madden, AB. They have two daughters. Ross is self employed in his own Courier business in Calgary. He has been a High School Chess Champ and won a few Scrabble competitions.
In New Hamburg, Ontario at 13 years of age, Ross Stevenson started pitching at 40' on clay courts. The Junior Category was added to the Canadian Championships in 1960. Ross won the Canadian Junior title 5 straight years from 1961 et 1965 and the World Junior's in 1965 ( with 65.1% tournament average. First Canadian to win a World Title). Ross recalls playing his first Canadian Junior tournament in 1961 at Linwood. In 1968, Ross qualified in the Men's Championship division at the World Tournament, finishing 9th with 23 wins, 12 losses and an impressive 77.8% average (he was tied for 7th). In his game against Red Henton he started with 44 consecutive ringers and recorded a game over 93%. That was the year Emer Hohl set his record of 88.2% for 35 games.
Ross moved to Calgary in July 1969, and didn't play in 1969 until 1972 when he came back. After a month of practice he won the World "B" Class title in 1972 with 73.0% at Greenville, Ohio. On his way back to Calgary, Ross came upon a sign saying horseshoe tournament in Manitoba. He decided to stay and play and went on to win the 1972 Manitoba Provincial Title. At that time you didn't need to be a resident. Needless to say the next year that requirement of residency was changed.
He was active in 1974, winning the B.C. International and placing second at the Alberta provincials. But then he quit playing for about 10 years, making a comeback in 1984. He improved steadily, finding his form of old and won several tournaments. Here is an overview of his achievements:
Other achievements:
Ross Stevenson was Sec-Treasurer of the Canadian association in 1967 and 1968. In 1984, Ross was appointed Chairman, by Horseshoe Canada to head a committee in charge of finding a new, acceptable format for the Men and Women's Canadian Championship division. It was accepted in 1985, to be reviewed every three years and is still basically the same. Ross set up a computer program for Calgary and the AHPA to run tournament and league play. He is a certified coach and has put on many clinics in Alberta. Ross helped to draw up a format for the Western Classic in 1985, which combines the four western provinces in competition. In 1986, the Western Classic was launched, with Ross leading the way as the main sponsor and also by winning Men's A. It continues to be a very popular and successful tournament. For Horseshoe Canada, Ross was acting President in 1988 and Vice-Pres. in 1989-1992. He was also AHPA Treasurer from 1992-1995. In 1997 Ross constructed a playoff format and formula for pay-out of the Canadian Championship classes. His company "Horseshoe Express" gave equal remuneration to the top three finishers in the Men's and Ladies championship classes at the Canadians in 1998 in Victoria, B.C. In the same year he was inducted into the Ontario Horseshoe Hall of Fame.
