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HAY RIVER - Even though the Territories were left out of a Canada-wide search for the nation's fastest texter, Hay River's Amy McDonald, 21, placed first in the regional championships for the country's first text messaging competition.

Amy McDonald, of Hay River, second from the right was sent to Toronto after unexpectedly winning the regional championships for LG Canada's first national texting competition. - photo courtesy of High Road Communications

"I was at the Calgary Stampede with friends and (the texting championship representatives) were like 'hey, do you want to do a competition? It will only take two seconds,'" said McDonald. "I did not expect anything to come from that."

Shortly after she got a phone call informing her she had won the Midwest regional competition which included Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

"It was completely random," said McDonald.

LG Electronics Canada hosted the competition in Toronto, where McDonald was flown to battle it out with nine other finalists for a grand prize of $25,000 and a $5,000 trip for two to Mexico.

The texters had to show off their cell phone skills by typing phrases as they appeared on an overhead screen.

"It went all right. I think I came in third overall," she said. "It was really close."

McDonald lost by one second to Ontario's Mike Breiva.

"Canadians love to text," said LG spokesperson Frank Lee.

He said the texting championship was thought up while watching sports channels like ESPN, which feature odd competitions like hotdog eating and cup stacking.

"We thought if this could be a competition, texting could be a competition," he said.

Competitors ranged in age from 14 to 28 and Lee said having a competitor from the NWT was fortunate.

"We were really rooting for her," he said of McDonald.

Lee said with the world's eyes on the Olympics it was a perfect time for this event and plans are in the works to make it global.