ProRodeo Sports News - September 1, 2023

CANBY, ORE.

CANBY RODEO

Partnership

Carroll/Kuttler team up to capture Canby crown BY BRADY RENCK, Special to ProRodeo Sports News T he last month of the season sharpens focus on the circuit. A handful of cowboys remain lasered on reaching the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. A bigger number are looking to establish momentum for next season. Or, as team roper Shay Dixon Carroll put it, “We are entering to make money.” The Northwest offers terrific events and checks, leading Carroll to form a quick partnership with Max Kuttler. Carroll was in no hurry to return to the Texas heat this month, and Kuttler was open for some more competition. Presto. The team ropers combined forces for the first time and won the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo, clocking 10.0 seconds on two head at Bob Trevers Arena. “It was a great first week. I don’t have any reason to be out here other than to make money. I thought we could work something out,” Carroll said. “The team roping community is so close. Everybody knows everybody.” So, even though the pair had never roped in an event, working together made sense. “We are close to the same age. We have known each other since high school rodeos,” said Kuttler from American Falls, Idaho. Kuttler credited Carroll for his nuance in helping win the event. Carroll saw the first steer in Idaho a few weeks back, and recognized it required a different approach. No need for the normal sense of urgency. He had a little bit of time. “Without that knowledge I might have broken the barrier. I knew it was a good steer and would act accordingly,” Carroll said. “The pen there is set up to have the right steers and we used that to our advantage, and I gave my guy Max a chance to do what he does.” Armed with a 4.7 first time, good enough for second, consistency became the key. The pair posted a 5.3 time in the finale. “That second steer ran straight. We saw him go and were able to get him,” Kuttler said. For Carroll, this experience is a reminder of what his future holds. He has served as a terrific heeler in his career. He boasts NFR appearances in 2014, 2016 and 2020. But heeler is just not his preference. He wants to be a header moving forward. “I heeled through junior high school and high school. It wasn’t my personality. The header is the quarterback,” said Carroll, who placed 30th in the world standings last season. “As a heeler, you can imagine how it feels if it isn’t your personality. I just feel like that fits me better, and I want to keep working on this and see what happens.” And that might even be with Kuttler as his partner. “That arena was slam packed. A lot of people in the stands. That was the first time I have been to Canby. They did a great job,” Kuttler said. “A lot of good stuff happened. We will see where this goes.”

Kent Soule photo Team roping heeler Max Kuttler, left, prepares to make his throw moments after header Shay Dixon Carroll made his throw. The duo won the average at the Canby (Ore.) Rodeo with a 10.0-second time on two head.

Complete results/Page 118

BAREBACK RIDING 1. Clayton Biglow ...... 90.5 pts. 2. Mason Clements .......... 87.5 3. Kody Lamb ................... 86.5

STEER WRESTLING 1. Levi Rudd ....... 7.6 sec. on 2 2. Cody Devers ................... 7.7 3. Walt Arnold .................... 8.1

TEAM ROPING 1. Carroll/Kuttler ....... 10.0 sec. on 2 2. C. Smith/C. Payne ................ 10.6 (Tie) Johnson/Johnson ........ 10.6

SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Ryder Wright ............ 89 pts. 2. Q Taylor ........................... 88 3. Three tied with ................. 86

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. S. Hanchey .... 16.1 sec. on 2 2. Blane Cox ..................... 18.2 (Tie) Marcos Costa ....... 18.2

BARREL RACING 1. A. Castleberry ...... 16.19 sec. 2. Kathy Grimes .............. 16.28 3. Taycie Matthews ......... 16.37

BULL RIDING 1. Canyon Bass ............. 87 pts. 2. Parker Breding ................ 85 (Tie) Robbie Taylor .......... 85

TOP MONEY EARNER Shane Hanchey ($7,803, tie-down roping)

TOP

SCORES

ProRodeo Sports News 9/1/2023

ProRodeo Sports News 9/1/2023

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