well if you want to get involved and are not a first year programmer Phil is always looking for volunteers to help out…some of the meetings are held by teleconference so I suspect even if you are in the UK that might work.
I suspect skooter can tell us more about the actual competition as his students were on the winning team last year.
they also need help getting the word out to first year students in all the colleges and universities so if you know of lecturers who might be interested send them on the info.
aphra.