The first rowing clubs in Porto Alegre were founded by German-Brazilians during the second half of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, Portuguese-Brazilians also attained a greater presence in this sport. Rowing clubs represented cultural identities of European immigrants settled in the city, and regattas were the fields of heated disputes between social groups. In the main rowing championship of Rio Grande do Sul state, held in 1911, there was a great tumult between fans of rowing clubs: the Black Pier Conflict. This study aims to investigate what the meanings of the conflict between the fans of clubs Ruder Verein Germania and Grêmio de Regatas Almirante Tamandaré in the 1911 rowing championship, in Porto Alegre. To answer this research question, the study analyzed reports in newspapers circulating in Porto Alegre during that period. The annual State Championship expressed the hierarchy of position between the clubs. The conflict between fans of Ruder Verein Germania and Grêmio de Regatas Almirante Tamandaré expressed the struggles to represent cultural identities between Portuguese-Brazilians and German-Brazilians in the realm of sport.
History of Sport; Rowing; Clubs