I'm sure the proximity of the contest to the Scottish is amajor factor. Being a native Aberdonian, I have been very keen for Bathgate to take part in the Northern Counties contest for the last 3 years, but there has never been enough time or players after the Scottish to prepare anything up to a good standard - always ended up entering the West of Scotland or Carnegie Contests instead, which are a few weeks later.
It's a pity as I have always enjoyed this contest - one of the few opportunities for bands from the north of scotland to compete without a huge expense, so I always remember getting to hear bands you wouldn't usually hear! I do agree moving it out of Aberdeen is also a huge pity, but I assume funds are the main reason for that - the beach ballroom and Music Hall in Aberdeen for example are very expensive venues in comparison to the theatre in arbroath!