I wasn't suggesting a bias in the judging, but a bias in the number of entries that actually reach them: reducing in number the further afield they come from.
Oh, I agree, I'm sure the number of entries from out here are quite low... keep in mind, too, that a lot of these competitions have really only been springing up the past couple of years for the most part (I think this is the 3rd year for the Cowtown one). Plus, their population is higher, etc. etc.