I know you cannot please everbody, but I think the northern region has been spanked a bit here.
Manchester, Newcastle and Scotland. These places are no where near each other. Manchester is nearer to Nottingham and B"ham together that either of the other places.
I do think the regions need a bit of looking at. The travelling has a massive part to play in it. I would have a 50 mile round trip to Manchester, no major problem. Possibly a 500 mile round trip Scotland (if it was Aberdeen it would be 600), and from mine to Newcastle a 350 round trip. This means anyone in Liverpool would realistically only be getting to Manchester, and it would be better for me to visit Walsall or Nottingham than the other 2.
This is way too much. The same problem for anyone living in the North West of England. It seems as though the north has been put at anywhere North of Cheshire, which is well more than half of the UK.
How will the APAT decide on where the 5 events held. There are only 3 venues in the northern region but 5 events. Could the G-Casino Blackpool not make a venue, oe even the Grosvenor Liverpool?
I do sympathise as well with Cardiff and Ireland, but hey its Ireland.
Edit - I am sure it will work out well.. PS and good work Des and the team..