A Manitoba original and “Wally-San”
Hersh Lerner says if you’re not nervous it’s BS.
Hersh grew up in Winnipeg, learning to curl at the Maple Leaf Curling Club. His talent for golf was matched by his prowess on the ice, as he scored three eight-enders in one season.
Joined by Coleman Staniloff, Robert Lemecha and Allan Dudar, Hersh first won a purple heart in 1963. The crowd in Brandon was stunned watching the Richardsons of Saskatchewan dismantle Manitoba 16-4. The Lerner squad didn’t recover that week, finishing 3-7.
Vowing he’d be back, Hersh returned in 1966, again with Robert and Allan and now joined by Bob Dudar at lead. They finished 6-4, defeating eventual winner Ron Northcott of Alberta but losing close games to Saskatchewan’s Bob “Pee Wee” Pickering and runner-up Joe Gurowka of Ontario.
Before talking to Hersh (43:50) host Kevin Palmer sits down with his guest from Curling Legends episode 24, Wally Ursuliak and his friend Will Pacarynuk. “Lucky” Will aka “Fudgie” has spent the last few years writing WALLY-san, a published history of Wally’s life and remarkable curling legacy, which includes near-deity status in Japan.