Mitch Copps, of Bluff Dale, Texas, and Taylor Mitchell, of Midland and Stephenville, Texas, won the #11.5 Key Card Advantage Ariat World Series Finale (opens in a new tab) qualifier at the 2026 Cinch USTRC National Finals (opens in a new tab) with a 29.95 on four head, worth $45,500.
For Copps, 68, and Mitchell, 36, the formula was simple — stay the course and take advantage of good cattle.
“We just kind of kept everything simple,” Copps said. “Didn’t try to do anything too big.”
Copps also finished fourth in the same roping with longtime partner Tee Woolman, adding to a strong showing in Fort Worth.
The pair opened with a 7.59 and 8.02 before hitting their stride with a 6.67 in the third round to put themselves in position heading into the short go.
“I was just trying to catch,” Mitchell said. “I hadn’t been roping great, so I just wanted to do my job.”
They finished it off with a 7.67 to secure the win.
The partnership clicked all the way through, with both ropers doing their part in the four-head format.
“Mitch set them up really good all day,” Mitchell said. “He made it easy on me.”
Copps and Mitchell had already punched their ticket to the Ariat World Series of Team Roping Finale earlier this year through Key Card Advantage qualifiers, but the win in Fort Worth added another highlight to an already strong run
