Illawarra clubs will combine for 94 teams in seven grades for Zone 16 pennants in 2015.

The massive numbers puts lawn bowls in the top echelon of senior weekend sports alongside netball and football, with bowls continuing to be a popular sport for participants of all standards.

Dapto Citizens and Warilla have played off in the past seven Grade 1 grand finals and in 2015 they will again lead the way with the most number of teams in the seven Illawarra pennant grades.

Lower grade bowls has traditionally been the backbone for bowling clubs and in 2015, there will be 16 teams in Grade 5, 22 teams in Grade 6 and 20 teams nominated in Grade 7.

Ten teams will play in the blue ribbon Grade 1, eight in Grade 2, 10 in Grade 3 and eight in Grade 4.

For the second straight year Illawarra has lost a bowling club, with Shellharbour BC closing and dropping out of several pennant grades, including Grade 1.

Twelve months ago, Bulli Bowling Club closed, leaving a host of players to find a new club, with most joining neighbours Woonona, who were promoted to Grade 1 this year.

Helensburgh BC also closed in 2014, while next year about 73 former Shellharbour bowlers will play pennants for Warilla, who have strengthened their lower-grade teams.

The opening round of pennants in 2015 is scheduled for Saturday, February 28.

The semi-finals are on May 23-24, with the grand finals the following weekend.

The pennants competition will finish a week later in 2015 to accommodate the revamped Australian Open, which is moving from Melbourne and its regular February schedule to Queensland for two weeks from June 2015.

The Illawarra Zone 16 representative season begins in Canberra on January 17-18 for the ACT Quad Series.

Joining Illawarra and hosts ACT are Zone 2 and Zone 15.

Three Warilla stars, Jeremy Henry, Aaron Teys and Jesse Noronha, will skips teams, with Dapto Citizens' Kyle Johannes the other Illawarra skip.

The Zone 16 championship season for 2015 begins with the triples title on Saturday, January 31, with the final on February 8. The Zone 16 fours begin on Saturday, February 14.

In 2014, Warilla dominated the Zone 16 championships with the club's bowlers winning the open pairs, triples, fours and senior singles, plus President's Reserve singles and champion of club champion pairs.

Warilla's Geoff McGillivray (Senior Singles) and Jamie Nabbe (President's Reserve Singles) went on to win the prestigious state crown.

Merry Christmas to all

It’s been a huge year in Illawarra bowls and Loose Ends thanks its many contributors.

Special thanks to Brian and Angela Gibson from Illawarra Zone 16 for their outstanding support all year. 

Barbara Roser has done an excellent job promoting Illawarra women’s bowls, and several men’s and women’s clubs have been in touch in 2014.

Andrew Lynn from Bowls NSW remains among the best administrators from any sport.

The column is taking a break for a few weeks, but the Mercury will provide daily coverage of the South Pacific Carnival, which begins on Saturday, December 27.

Merry Christmas, and don’t roll too many in the ditch.