Ronald Ross (shinty player)

Ronald Ross, MBE (born 1975) is a retired Scottish shinty player who played for Kingussie Camanachd. He is a forward, the only man to have ever scored more than 1000 goals in the sport[1] and who has broken several other records as an individual and as part of Kingussie's record-breaking first team.

For other people named Ronald Ross, see Ronald Ross (disambiguation).

The media has awarded him the nickname "Ronaldo of the Glens"[2] in tribute to his scoring prowess, drawing comparisons with the famous Portuguese footballer. Everyone in shinty just calls him "Ronald".

Early playing career and prime

Ross made his first Camanachd Cup appearance in 1992 against Fort William as a substitute. His father, Ian Ross, was manager that day, and had not put him in the team due to worries about nepotism. However, Ross soon began to prove his worth throughout the nineties as Kingussie swept all before them.[3]

In 2002–03, the last ever winter season for shinty, he scored 94 goals in all competitions. This was more than the accumulated totals for Kingussie's closest rivals, Newtonmore Camanachd Club and Fort William Shinty Club in the league that season. His previous best, in season 2001–02, was 88.

Ross retired from international shinty for the second time on 14 October 2007 after helping Scotland defeat the Irish hurlers in Fort William. He finished the 2007 season, where he helped Kingussie reclaim the Premier League title, with 72 goals.

2008 saw Ross again help Kingussie win the title but he was the victim of strong handed tactics by Fort William Shinty Club in the Camanachd Cup final that year. He scored a fantastic goal, akin to one scored in 2006 at the final in Dunoon but the treatment he received from Adam Robertson was very physical.[4]

Return to international and 1000 goals

Ross returned to International shinty/hurling in 2009 after a call from the management of the Scotland side due to his form in the 2009 season which saw him score 92 goals, two short of his all-time record.[5] Kingussie reclaimed the league with a last day win against Kyles Athletic.

In 2010, after scoring 4 goals to win the Macaulay Cup in extra time, Ross stated that he would review his playing career at the end of the season.[6]

His career total, excluding goals in reserve shinty,[7] is in excess of 1000 goals. On 23 May 2009 he scored his 1000th goal (and 1001st) against Lovat in a MacTavish Cup Semi-final.[8]

As well as captaining Scotland, he has popularised the wearing of safety helmets amongst young players. He is employed as a shinty development officer by the Camanachd Association.

Ross was appointed under-21 Scotland manager for 2012.[9]

Recognition

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to shinty.[10][11]

Ronald was awarded the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Sport in 2009, the second time he had received this honour.[12]

Prowess in tennis

He was Scottish junior tennis champion[13] and was Scottish Number Two at youth level[14] and is friends with Andy Murray.[15] In early 2010, he was ironically injured by tripping on a tennis ball whilst coaching children shinty.[16]

Newtonmore connections

In 2010, Ross was the victim of an April Fool's prank by a shinty website[17] which stated that he would be switching to Kingussie's bitter rivals Newtonmore for his final season in the sport.

Ironically, given his iconic status as the Kingussie player par excellence of the last 20 years, Ronald's mother is from Newtonmore.[18] Also his maternal grandfather, Minto Sellar, won the Camanachd Cup for Newtonmore in 1931.[19] His father, Ian, from Kingussie, was a massive influence on his career. He also has a brother, Ian Jr.[20] Ian was also awarded the MBE for services to shinty.[21]

Footnotes
  1. "Shinty ace Ronald Ross hailed as sports icon after notching 1000 goals - Daily Record". 24 May 2009.
  2. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article861450.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2
  3. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article1140061.ece
  4. "Camanachd Cup : Kingussie 1-2 Fort William - Scotland on Sunday". scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008.
  5. "Hurling himself into the battle - Scotland on Sunday". scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009.
  6. "Sport | the Scotsman".
  7. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2510086.0.Ronaldo_of_the_Glens_is_first_Scot_to_hit_1000_goals.php
  8. "Shinty ace Ronald Ross hailed as sports icon after notching 1000 goals - Daily Record". 24 May 2009.
  9. "Ronald Ross Confirmed as Scotland U21 Heach Coach".
  10. "No. 59647". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2010. p. 21.
  11. "Scots enjoy OBE success | Herald Scotland". www.heraldscotland.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012.
  12. http://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4949/Iconic_award_a__great_honour__for_shinty_hero.html
  13. http://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/6003/Honour_for_shinty_legend.html
  14. http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2510086.0.Ronaldo_of_the_Glens_is_first_Scot_to_hit_1000_goals.php
  15. "Game, set, match and cup for rampant record-breaker Ross - Press & Journal". Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.
  16. "Sport | the Scotsman".
  17. "Ronald Ross to Make Sensational Badenoch Switch".
  18. "Ronald Ross to Make Sensational Badenoch Switch".
  19. "Lifestyle | the Scotsman".
  20. "SHINTY STICK How did a tiny Highland town produce the most successful team in the history of world sport? Ronaldo of the Glens may have had something to do with it . ."
  21. http://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/6003/Honour_for_shinty_legend.html
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