Eli Necochea wins the bull riding event on “D36” with an 85-point ride at the Banning Stagecoach Days rodeo, Sept. 6-8 and takes the lead in the 2020 standings. Andrea Kaus photo
The rodeo season for purposes of qualifying for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s California Circuit finals begins in September, and when Hemet bull rider Eli Necochea mounted his Honeycutt Rodeo stock Sept. 7, at the Dysart Equestrian Park rodeo grounds in Banning, his objective was to place and earn money for the 2020 standings.“I was trying to make circuit finals,” Necochea said.Necochea was not only successful in placing, but his 85-point ride won the Sept. 6-8 Banning Stagecoach Days rodeo and gave him the 2020 standings lead.“It was probably my best ride yet,” Necochea said.Necochea was born in Hemet, and after moving to Romoland during his early childhood, he returned to Hemet when he was 12. He graduated from Hemet High School in 2017. When a co
