ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest 2005

Enthusiasm was high at the Rhodes University venue for the Seventh ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest in the South African region.  A total of 47 teams from universities all over the country took part at 4 venues.  The Rhodes University venue hosted 13 teams, 10 from Rhodes University, and the remainder from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Rhodes University teams made an early entry into the competition with the "C-Team" completing two problems in a combined time of just over 45 minutes.  Before long, balloons were popping up all over the venue as solutions were accepted.  Rhodes University teams maintained a visible presence, occupying positions in the top 10 for most of the contest.  Most teams ended up solving at least two problems each.

Concentration remained intense as the hours drew on.  The arrival of the lunch time pizza, sponsored by the Rhodes Computer Science Department, was a welcome interruption, however.

Team "DP3" was a strong contender through the contest, eventually solving 4 problems (and narrowly missing the cutoff time for a fifth) and ended up in 3rd position overall.

Final standings for the venue were:

• First: DP3 with 4 problems solved (3rd overall).
• Second: OneOne with 3 problems solved (8th overall).
• Third: C-Team, with 2 problems solved (10th overall).

Other Rhodes University teams that finished in the top 20 are:

• Dwarves (11th overall)
• Random (14th overall)
• Honours01 (15th overall)
• Dr. MM (Jr) (19th overall)

Team DP3: Nick Pilkington, David de Bruyn, and Stephen Robertson.

Team OneOne: Michael Horne, Russell Cloran, and Donald Carr.

Balloons appearing, one for each problem solved.